TEMPLE BETH EL
Charlotte, North Carolina
Design for the Main Sanctuary Ark and Stained Glass
June 6, 2009
Artists' conception for the Ark and surrounding stained glass for the main sanctuary.

 

Jacob had a dream, there was a ladder coming down from the heavens and there were angels going up and down on it.

Jacob found himself in a very narrow spot, here represented by the encroaching rocks.In the dreamscape, above, transparent doves swoop up and down on ladders whose rails are fiery lines emanating from the composition center, which are crossed by golden styles, each capped with a small crown. There are eight rungs on each ladder and a reference, in Hebrew and English should be made here to Maimonides eight levels of tzadakah. A lightening bolt, filled with a random array of hundreds of Hebrew letters, pierces the sky, connecting through the ark to the Ner Tamid. The word, Echad, is spelled out, in stars, while three brighter stars stand out, symbolizing the holiness of the moment. A singular rock sits to the right of the ark and on it is chiseled the single word, in Hebrew, El. A small Hebrew inscription, in the sky translates How awesome is this place.

The Hebrew inscription, rendered in raised metal lettering, on the soffit above the ark, translates, The light of God is the soul of Man. The shape of the ark mirrors the architecture of the building i.e. large rectangular masses surmounted by a gently curving vault. A projecting, curved canopy is supported by a pair of columns, similar to the smaller Chapel Ark. The sliding ark doors are treated with stained glass, whose design integrates with the surrounding window design. Ten black bands are incised into the ark cabinet on each side, creating depth and texture as well as referring to the Ten Commandments. An open space in the construction of the ark allows a view of the stained glass behind the Ner Tamid.
     

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