Phyllis Brawarsky writes: “As I go through successive cycles of the year at TBZ, my participation in our synagogue community has both increased and deepened, as has my personal embrace of the rituals I experience with joy and renewed meaning. My quilt square represents the cycle of the Jewish year -- weekly Shabbat, and the holidays and festivals. TBZ is at the core of the cycle and envelops it.The center menorah depicts the TBZ ark doors. The seven candles of the menorah symbolize the days of the week -- the tallest candle being Shabbat. Surrounding the weekly cycle are symbols related to the yearly cycle of holidays and festivals with their strong connection to the natural cycle in the land of Israel. These holidays are: Rosh Hashanah, the new year, at the new moon, with the sounding of the shofar; Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, with prayers for inscription in the Book of Life; Sukkott, the Festival of Booths, celebrating the fall harvest, at the full moon; Shemini Atzeret, the 8th day of Assembly, with prayers for rain; Simchat Torah, a celebration of the ending and beginning of the annual cycle of reading of the Torah; Chanukah, a festival of light and rededication, at the darkest time of the year; Tu B'Shvat, the second day of the month of Sh'vat, the new year of trees; Purim, the Festival of Lots, a holiday of disguise; Passover, the commemoration of the exodus from Egypt, at the beginning of spring and barley harvest; Shavuot, the commemoration of the giving of the Torah, at the time of the wheat harvest and first fruits; and Tish B'Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, a day of communal mourning and rememberance. A tallit from TBZ wraps around the symbols of the year, just at the TBZ community and its spiritual leaders guide and inspire me.”

About the Artist. “I'm a mother and step-mother of grown children and a step-grandmother. I'm a public health researcher, an avid swimmer, gardener and bicyclist and very grateful to be descended from many golden hands.”