מטות |Matot

Chava Shtraykher, Russia/USA

It is taught that the sefer Torah has a particular status of holiness. For this reason it is kept in a sacred place, uncovered only in celebration and ceremony so as to uplift and celebrate the community. So it is with a husband and wife, some commentators teach. A modest and righteous woman is the subject of holiness for her husband alone and Ruth was the embodiment of this quality. Therefore, she became the great-grandmother of King David, from whose lineage the Messiah will descend. In this work, Ruth represents the hidden spiritual female strength behind the physical power of men at war.

Professional Background  Chava Shtraykher was raised in Odessa on the Black Sea and spent summers in the Carpathian Mountains. She attended the Theatrical School of Arts in Odessa, Ukraine, after which she started her 30-year career as a textile artist. Shtraykher’s paintings have been included in numerous group and solo exhibitions abroad and in the US, including the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in New York City.