An army Torah Mantel!

Now here’s something you don't see every day!

This was the email that started it all:

"Hello,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

Being that the Torah will be primarily used and dispatched to “troubled” areas around the world where Jewish Emergency providers will be sent to help in various rescue, emergency and recovery efforts, the Mantel should be reflective of this use in regards to theme, color, material and durability.
Being that I am as well a U.S. Military Medical Officer, I was thinking military themed (look at U.S. Marine Corp Marpat Camouflage pattern), along with HATZALAH logo, with inscriptions being in Honor of my late wife a”h, donated by myself and children, dedicated to the victims of the Surfside building collapse.

Are initial visual thought concepts able to be drawn to ensure the direction of the design is headed in the right direction?
Let me know your availability to further discuss."


So this is the front of the Torah Mantel.
(An amazing partnership with the talented "Jerusalem Scribe", Kalman Gavriel Delmoor.)

And here’s the 'back' of the army Torah mantel. It was donated by Dr. Neuwirth in memory of the Surfside victims, whose lives he tried to save as he led the Jewish Emergency providers who offered assistance at the scene for 3 weeks.
We added in subtle US Army Marpat camouflage squares and rectangles to give this dedication text a military feel.
You'll also notice the United Hatzalah logo that Dr. Neuwirth wanted me to embroider above, b/c he is very involved with them as well.

Before shipping out this epic Torah mantel, I knew I needed an amazing photo. So I went out to Jabotinsky street holding the mantel in my arms, looking for a soldier who would agree to be my 'model'! I couldn't find a soldier. So I called up United Hatzlah's Bnei Brak branch and asked them to send me a volunteer who'd agree to be photographed with tons of logos all around him! Hahahah!