Rabbi Me'irah Iliinsky — Artist’s Statement
When I became bat mitzvah at the age of 45, my mother chose to give me a Hebrew name after her grandmother, Halena. Halena means light in Greek, and the Hebrew equivalent is Me’irah, to light up or illumine. The power of a parent’s blessing, and granting of a name is not to be under estimated.
As the years passed, my artwork ranged from drawing, to textiles, to painted ceramics. I was also peeling back the layers to my own soul, finding who I was at the core. When I decided to go to rabbinical school, I assumed that I would need to relinquish making art, as there would simply be no time for such self indulgence. Fortunately, although I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I needed to take a year off and study more Hebrew. A friend alerted me to a program in Israel for artists where I could both study Hebrew and do artwork. I couldn’t take ceramics to paint to Israel—totally impractical. So I switched to paper and gouache: a water based opaque paint. I wanted to focus my artwork in the service of Judaism.
Chanting Torah and getting into the habit of praying familiarized me with the treasured verses of our sacred texts. I took those verses in and let them inform my life and values. I have such a desire to share this treasure, ornamented in color and gold, so that all the world may “see” the verses. I take my inspiration from medieval illuminated manuscripts, and from classic illustrators at the turn of the 20th Century, such as Alexander Bilibin and Ze’ev Raban.
I found that rather than relinquishing art, which is such an essential a part of me, that I could incorporate it into my rabbinic work. I grew into my name and became an illuminator in the traditional sense of the word, as in lighting up the letters with gold. Yes also, I am an illuminator in the sense of one who shines a light onto the meaning of a text, as every painting is also an interpretation, a commentary, a drash.
My wish is that these paintings will bring joy to your soul, that they will open new pathways for you into our precious Torah, “The Teaching” that was given to us in love.
Illuminated Verses
The term "illumination" comes from the illuminated manuscripts of the medieval period, before the printing press. A book — or codex, to use the proper term — was made by scribes who hand-lettered the words onto parchment with a quill or reed. An illuminator, the medieval counterpart of today's illustrator, would then ornament the initial letters and margins of the text, often using gold leaf for special volumes. Many of these manuscripts were religious in purpose: haggadot, prayer books, scrolls of Esther, and the like.
The word "illuminate" carries a double meaning: not only to ornament with gold, but to throw light on the text — the illustrations comment on the words, bringing new understanding to their plain meaning. Rabbi Me'irah works in this tradition, using gold gouache in place of gold leaf.
Academic Credentials
BA, Psychology, Antioch College, 1980
MSW Portland State University 1984
MA Hebrew Letters 2007
Rabbinic ordination, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College 2007
Talks & Appearances
No upcoming engagements — to invite Me'irah to speak, contact below.
Press & Media
Rabbi Me’irah’s vision lead to an inspirational painting and presentation in honor of the Tree of Life / Or L’Simcha victims in Pittsburgh, PA [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette link | PDF]
Rabbi Me'irah did the cover artwork for Daughters of Miriam: Women Prophets in Ancient Israel
Her graphics illustrated the 2007 National Jewish Book Award winner, The Torah: A Women's Commentary
Rabbi Me'irah appears in the documentary film Regina's Gift.
She is a key figure in a short story, "The Arranged Marriage" by David Ebenbach, in the anthology Jewish Stories of Love and Marriage by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and Peninnah Schram.
Rabbi Me'irah wrote articles for the column Expired and Inspired [PDF] in the Jewish Journal.
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