EVE This painting depicts our Creation story. Eve was our mother of light. She existed in the spiritual dimension with Adam, where they were both light bodies and all was oneness. Once Eve tasted of the tree of Knowledge, she and Adam were cast down into the physical realm, into duality, into the pain and suffering of being in human bodies. Eve is filled with light, and she reaches out into the physical realm to pluck the apple. The snake begins to curl around her, invading her space, penetrating the world of light. Next to Eve is the ram who came into being on Erev Shabbat, immediately after the creation of Eve, and planed such an important role in the Jewish religion.

SARAH Students of the Bible are always surprised to learn that Abraham claimed Sarah was his sister, and sold her to the Egyptian Pharaoh. Did she suffer? Did her radiant light dim in the Pharaoh's palace, where she could not reveal her true identity?   This painting captures the beautiful prophetess after everyone in the palace fell ill except Sarah, who was protected by the Shekhina. The Pharaoh realized that Sarah was Abraham's wife and he released her and sent her forth with a dowry and the princess Hagar as her handmaiden. Now that Sarah is free, she is luminescent, filled with the spirit of “God, holiness and renewal.” The Shekhina lights up the sky around her. Wherever Sarah walks, the Shekhina is there. Sarah is a beacon, a blazing presence for all who encounter her. She is our radiant foremother, clear, beautiful, glorious in her wholeness.

RUTH AND NAOMI Ruth and Naomi is a story of loyalty, compassion and love, a story of courage and extreme devotion. The relationship between these two women is very deep and profound. Ruth forsaked her people, and her wealth to remain with Naomi, the mother of her late husband. Naomi had lost her two sons, her husband and all her material processions. Despite the fact that Ruth was still young, beautiful and a Moabite Princess, she forsaked her people and possessions to remain with her mother-in-law in poverty and become a Jew.   In this painting Naomi and Ruth are together in a field of wheat flooded with light and warmth. The warm colors represent the friendship and love between the two women. The wheat field is where Ruth worked to support herself and Naomi, it is also the place Naomi sent Ruth to meet her destiny with Boaz (the owner of the field), to marry and conceive a child. Purple is the color of Royalty, hence the purple in the border of the painting. Ruth is known as the Mother of Royalty, her direct line brought forth King David, King Solomon and the Messiah to come. Ruth was the first convert of the Jewish religion. She was Moabite, descended from the line of Lot and his daughters. Lot was a nephew of Abraham. Ruth had inherited the kindness of Lot. Ruth's conversion to Judaism tied the string back together by bringing Lot's kindness back to its original source. In the Talmud Ruth is called a beautiful bird of love and kindness as she flew over from the Moabites. The upper corners of the paintings are flanked by the birds holding in their beaks the names of Ruth and Naomi. The book of Ruth is read on Shavuos, the holiday celebrating the giving of the Torah to the Jews (as the Torah was given to Ruth).   Text in the painting: “Your God is my God”  - Naomi tries to send Ruth away three times, telling her to go back to her people. In response Ruth says, “your people will be my people, your God is my God.” - Book of Ruth. “You are a woman of Valor” - Ruth and Naomi are women of valor. Mainly because of their fearlessness and their ability to rise above adversity. –Proverbs. “My cup overfloweth" - This is from the 23rd Psalm written by King David, honoring Ruth his great ancestor. Ruth means overflowing.   Ruth and Naomi are an inspiration in faith and courage. They overcame the adversities in life. They traversed the most difficult path through the darkness, emerged in the light to bring greatness into the world. They teach us to remember that God rewards courage

RACHAEL This is a story about the power of love. When Jacob first saw Rachael at the well, he was so smitten by her beauty that he became endowed with the strength of four men and he single-handedly lifted the stone lid off the well for Rachael. Even the water exceeded its usual limitations. It flooded out of the well. Jacob kissed Rachael and at that moment he was so transported that he had a vision of Rachael's life and death. It was the destiny of beautiful Rachel to die in childbirth with their second son, Benjamin. She never fulfilled her destiny as a mother, which is why, in spirit, she has become and is known as the loving mother to all the Jewish people.

MIRIAM It was the darkest hour, and then it was the lightest hour. Moses had just led the Hebrew souls across the Reed Sea as they fled from hundreds of years of the physical and spiritual subjugation in Egypt. Now the waters have closed over the Egyptian pursuers, and the Jews are on dry land, ready to begin their wanderings and their search for a home. It is a time for a song and dance of freedom led by the sister of Moses, the prophetess Miriam.   Miriam is associated with light, for on her face shines the light of G-d. She is also linked with water, for wherever she went, water flowed in her and around her. When the Jews wandered in the desert, parched with thirst, because of Miriam's presence, water would magically appear. This is the origin of Miriam's well, and the water in the painting reminds us of Miriam's miracle of sustenance.

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The inspirational art and stories on this page were graciously contributed by artist, teacher, and lecturer, Sara M. Novenson. Judith’s Table is privileged to share her art and stories to stir and enrich us all. Illustrated here is Sara’s Women of the Bible series of “paintings and limited editions of lesser known (but not less important) stories of the women of the bible. Stories are woven into the images and words taken from the Kaballah, Torah and Midrash.” Sara writes “I mainly did the series to empower women and to get the little known stories of the women of the Bible that were never taught us as little girls out into the world – we all might have been different if we had these great role models.” Be sure to see Sara M. Novenson's biography and artist statement at our "Judith's Table Credits" page.

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