MEMORY FLAME CARD

MEMORY FLAME

- Joy Krauthammer 

Based on my sadness from loss, which all chevre share from death of Reb David Zeller, z"l, I designed a memorial card, MEMORY FLAME. As soon as Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi shared the saddest news with chevre who were with him last year on Shavuot, I realized I needed to have this card for those of us grieving.


In the center of the Ohr (flame painting I made following a meditation on the Holy Temple), is a glitter gem stone embellished Magen Dovid-shaped lotus flower, a water lily. I thought Reb Dovid would appreciate this flower from his days as a Buddhist Sadhu in India. The lily / sosannim is found in Old Testament in Psalms and sometimes translated by musicologists as "testimony."  Do you see inside the other blue Magen Dovid, is a blue heart?

Enjoy both sides of my Memory Flame card.

MEMORY FLAME

Grateful that digital graphic designer, Joe Rudy, helped me with layout and fonts for Memory Flame.
by Joy Krauthammer ©

Yiskor was fast approaching at the Elat Chayyim country retreat center, and there were no memorial candles visible to remember my husband, z"l, thus in my mind I visualized a virtual flame. Hours later this Memory Flame card was mindfully manifested.


The Yiskor teaching was given to us on Shavuot 2007 by Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. "In memory of loved ones, in each direction, to and from your loved one, z'l, giving and receiving, 'feel Forgiveness, Gratitude, Compassion and Love.' Hold your beloved's hand in your hand."

In locations where candles may not be lit for safety reasons, and in ritual, I and others have used the little Memorial Flame card with my Ohr, flame painting. In all these colors of Ohr "do I see the light" of Reb Zeller. Maybe Reb Zeller's, widow now has the circular double-sided engraved, bronze medallion pendant that I gave to Reb Zeller with these words in Hebrew and English, "In Your Light Do We See Light" (surrounding a Menorah) that he loved to teach and sing. At the Jung Institute, Reb Zeller saw pendant hanging on my neck, liked it, and I immediately removed it and gifted the pendant to him, feeling so good that I could give my Rebbe something he appreciated. On the other side of the pendant, surrounding a Tree of Life, is written, "The Compassionate One Seeks the Heart..."

May Reb Zeller's neshama/ soul be blessed and have a speedy and high aliyah / going up to Shamayim / heaven.

- Joy Krauthammer

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