A Torah Mantel Filled With Heart: A Family’s Tribute of Love

This Torah mantel began with a message from Michelle, and from the very first phone call I knew this was going to be something very special.

A bit of background: Michelle and her husband, William, wanted to dedicate a Torah in honor of their three boys: Sandy (Shalom), Mark (Mordechai Tzvi), and Daniel (Daniel Chaim). Two of the boys, Mark and Daniel, live with severe autism. The family wanted this Torah and the mantel to give them kavod, a dignity and presence they don’t always get from this world.

I was touched right away.

And to make it even more meaningful, this new Torah would stand in the same aron hakodesh as a previous parochet and several other Torah mantels I had already made for their community. So this one had to be just as beautiful, but also totally unique!

Getting to Know the Boys

As we spoke, Michelle shared so much about each of her children.

Mark and Daniel have severe autism. Both at this moment, won’t be able to live independent lives. Mark is non verbal, non communicative, has a feeding tube, and uses a wheelchair. He requires care around the clock. But his smile is electric and his laugh is contagious!

Daniel also has severe autism but it’s not as severe as Mark. Daniel is beginning to speak, make sentences, answer questions, follow directions and he can even say the first line of Shema and Netilat yedayim! He loves to wash his hands for Challah on Shabbat. Daniel is also always trying to make you laugh.

And their oldest, Shalom, is the sweetest, most devoted big brother, caring, thoughtful, and so full of heart!

Michelle even told me about their first-ever family trip to Disney World, where each child got special one-on-one time with her. You could hear the love and devotion in every story she shared.

William, who is usually quiet, was incredibly invested in this project. He wanted this Torah to be a true zechut for the boys.

The Vision Starts to Take Shape

Michelle and William were very drawn to the phrase:
“חן וחסד ורחמים” Grace, Kindness, and Mercy.
This was our guide.

Next came colors and textures! They loved faux leather, modern florals, clean typography, and accents of yellow, green, black, and white. And then came the themes connected directly to the boys: expressive eyes, music, joy, communication, and a touch of whimsy.

We also pulled in inspiration from their parshiyot: Noach, Pinchas, and Vayigash, but also kept in mind that this would be in a Sephardic shul, so no animal imagery. Doves and peacocks came up and fruits came up too.

Together, we made a collaborative Pinterest board. It became our playground! Modern florals, sewn textures, and a palette inspired by the boys’ colors: hazel, green, yellow, brown, black.

Designing WITH the Family, Not Just FOR Them

First, we needed the artist who could bring their Torah Mantel to life, so we reached out to the one and only Malka Michaela Barshishat. Malka is an Israeli fine artist and illustrator whose work is pure magic.

With Malka’s extraordinary talent and this amazing family’s vision, we were set to create their dream Torah Mantel. We spoke often. We refined constantly. We discussed the boys’ personalities, their strengths, their smiles. Every single detail was intentional.

The final design developed into something that showcased the boys’ joy, light, and unity. To start with, we wanted to incorporate the boys’ hazel eyes, since for her autistic sons, their eyes are their main way of communicating. So we envisioned their eyes in the tail of a peacock. The peacock itself plays the harp to the words “Ivdu es Hashem b’simcha”, “Serve Hashem with joy”, reflecting the family’s focus on bringing more joy to the world despite their challenges.

The dove at the top symbolizes Shalom, the oldest boy, watching over his brothers.

A huge thank you to Malka Michaela Barshishat for her stunning final design! BH, it was exactly what the family had hoped for.

Watch her creative brilliance come together here:

The Sweet Finale!

When the Torah mantel and matching Etz Chaim finally arrived in their home, their reaction was EVERYTHING.
(I will include a screenshot of Michelle’s full review so you can see her excitement yourself!)

Michelle’s words, her gratitude, the boys’ stories, their vision…this is the kind of zchut I never take for granted!!!