Art as a Healing Path

We will explore the making of a metaphoric “sanctuary” in the form of a container for healing and prayer.  Through collage, paint and pens, we will also create personal prayer cards that will be housed in the decorated sanctuary that we will construct.  Just as we offer prayers for healing, so too has art making been a source of healing for people for centuries.  This workshop will combine these two practices as we aspire to the healing of mind, body and soul.

The concept of Hiddur Mitzvah, bringing elevation to mitzvot through aesthetics, originally comes from Exodus 15:2 and is expanded on in many later commentaries.  From this we are directed to enhance and beautify objects, structures, and rituals, basically every commandment as a way of magnifying the Divine.  There is even a midrash that suggests not only is a mitzvah elevated when we do something to make it beautiful but even the person who then sees that mitzvah/object/structure is lifted up and made more holy. Join us in this sacred practice of prayer writing, sanctuary building, beautifying and healing through hands on work with paint, paper and collage.