Honoring 9 Generations of Biala Rebbes
It was clear as day to the Biala Rebbe of Stamford Hill, Grand Rabbi Borich Leib Rabinowitz shlit”a, that his new parochet would be the most majestic parochet in all of Europe. He instinctively knew that his new parochet would pay homage the 9 Tzadikim who preceded him in a direct line descending from the Yehudi HaKadosh.
A WEB OF FLOWERS
When synagogue designer Liebel Schlesinger came to meet me in my Bnei Brak office, he expressed the following wish:
“My client is looking for a unique paroches. Let’s try designing a flowery web that will span the entire height and width of the velvet. Perhaps we can use a deep red velvet, almost black, to add to the drama.”
Liebel showed me photos of the incredible progress Lavi Synagogue Industries were making with the Aron Kodesh and the shul in general. The Biala Rebbe had approached Liebel about a year and a half prior to design and plan the most magnificent shul imaginable in the Chassidishe suburb of Stamford Hill, London. On monthly visits to Eretz Yisroel, L. made sure to oversee the progress at Lavi and ensure the smooth running of the Biala synagogue project.
We discussed many ideas for the parochet before moving on the make very general plans for the bima and amud covers. The idea of a band of flowers, leaves and swirls making its way around the bottom of the covers excited L.
After our meeting, my mind began racing with ideas for this fabulous project, each more grandiose than the previous one. I love taking the time to process the ideas my customers present me with before even putting pen to paper to begin drawing rough sketches of the new paroches. In the end, it took me close to a month to formulate some ideas which would not only form a web of flowers as per Liebel’s request, but coordinate with the ultra-posh design elements in the Aron Kodesh in particular and the entire shul in general.
However, as I neared completion of the rough sketch, Libel called.
“I’m not sure how to tell you this, but my client has a very very long dedication text. Very long. Something like nine or ten names of the Rebbes who preceded him.”
“Ok, no problem, so I’ll write them one after the other in an attractive applique badge in the center of the paroches.”
“Well, um, I had this idea, but you really don’t have to do if if it’s too hard. It’s just an idea I had.”
“Yes, what is it?” By this point I was really curious.
“I would like to see if we can somehow incorporate the names of the Rebbes within the flowers and leaves….”
“Done! I love a challenge and I’ll send you a few sketches that will intertwine the names of your client’s ancestors within the floral web.”
What do you think of these first three options?
Within a few days, Liebel informed me of his client’s enthusiastic approval of option 3.
PERFECTING THE GRAND DESIGN
Now that I had a clear direction of where the Rebbe wanted me to take this basic design, it was time to add color, embellishments and Swarovski crystals to the sketch. The ‘embellishing’ process took a few weeks until we had a final design that the Rebbe and his family were really excited about.
The Silk-screen Biala paroches hanging in the Aron Kodesh hours before the Chanikas HaBayis. (Special thanks to Lavi Synagogue Furniture CEO Micha O. for personally transporting these satin-printed parochets to London.)
THE CHANIKAS HABAYIS
Did you know that a regular paroches can take several weeks to produce? Kal v’chomer the extravagant Biala paroches which was made of millions of embroidery stitches and dons 1500 hand-applied Swarovski crystals.
The final confirmation for the design was given on January 16th. By that point, time was of the essence before the imminent Chanikas HaBayis of the new Biala shule, which was scheduled for Rosh Chodesh Nissan. The Rebbe had invited 400 prominent European Rabbis and truly desired to have an impressive new paroches to show in his magnificent new Aron Kodesh. Since there was no way such a major paroches could be produced on time for the Chanikas HaBayis, I suggested to the Rebbe an alternate solution: I silk-screened a 1:1 image of this main paroches onto satin, as well as the three Beis Medresh parochets, and had them sewn into curtains. In this fashion, the Rebbe was able to already give honor to his 9 predecessors in the Biala-Peshischa line, months before the actual embroidered paroches was produced. (I thank Hashem for sparking the idea of the silk-screen paroches in me and have suggested it to many shuls since.)
PRODCTION:
Although my digitizer had originally estimated that the main Biala paroches would require about 2 million embroidery stitches, the final product is made of 3.8 million stitches! After embroidering a few samples of the crown with various embroidery effects and e-mailing photos to Liebel, I went ahead and had my digitizer prepare the ultra-complicated embroidery files for the entire paroches.
This is part of what I sent my digitizer:
He prepared 7 separate files that my embroiderer would have to puzzle together with microscopic precision. The parochet was on the embroidery machine for a total of 4 weeks, with embroiderers working in shifts- they worked 21 hours/day, six days a week, plus Motzaei Shabboses. Needless to say, I spent many hours of that month in the embroidery factory, supervising the embroidery stage.
You’ll probably notice that I completely broke away from the traditional silver-only embroidery that most Chassidishe shuls love for their parochets. What’s wrong with a splash of color? I am proud to say that I have never designed a silver-only paroches for a Chassidishe shul; the parochets I’ve designed for Chassidim have at least six distinct hues that add depth to the overall effect.
SWAROVSKIS
If you’ve ever been to a major shopping mall and seen a sparkly Swarovski store, you may be able to fathom the idea of a parochet bedecked with 1500 Swarovski crystals.
Biala decided to go all-out with the Swarovskis. I interspersed astral pink tear-drop stones here and there to create ‘flowers’ within the embroidered leaves and twigs. ‘Splashes’ of silver-hued circular and eye-shaped Swarovskis flowed with the curvy lines.
Every time the parochet is opened or closed, a kaleidoscopic effect is achieved, with rays of light shining in every direction.
SAMUEL AND SONS
The finishing touch on the Biala parochet and bima/amud covers are the refined 100% silk trims by high-end passementerie Samuel and Sons.
Liebel chose the golden melange Orsay Silk collection and we mix and matched the Orsay Silk Tassel Fringe, the 1 5/8” Silk Ribbed Border and the 1/4” Orsay Silk Cord with Tape.
The effect is breath-taking. Embroiderers from all over Eretz Yisroel came to see the Biala paroches in its final stages…
THE BIALA EFFECT
Never before have I recived so many regards from one paroches. In the months ensuing the Shavuos inauguration of the parochet set, Chassidishe and Litvishe friends and neighbors made sure to inform me that they had visited London and had made a point of praying in the newly renovated Biala shul. …
After hearing so many enthusiastic reports from so many sources, I told my husband that we’re going too! And so, in the deep of winter, we bid farewell to balmy Bnei Brak and traveled to freezing London. It was amazing. I invite you to go see it for yourself as well!
If this is not malchus, I do not know what is…
Erev Shavuos 5778 at Biala.
Here is an interesting behind-the-scenes peek at the Biala parochet being embroidered: