May, 2023
Judaica fiber artist Jeanette Kuvin Oren gives the final designs for our new “every day” Torah covers.
Inspired by the opportunity created by scribing a new Torah scroll, the Torah Project Committee, Ritual Committee members and Clergy agreed that the time had come to explore purchasing a set of six new “everyday” Torah covers. The deep maroon velvet covers that have adorned our Torah scrolls for over 50 years are wearing thin and are starting to fray. A subcommittee looked into options that would better reflect the artistic sensibilities of our current membership.
They explored pre-made and custom-made Torah covers, researched and interviewed several Judaica specialty fabric artists and learned about costs, timelines, and durability. Additionally, the committee researched how past donors of our current Torah scrolls were honored. After all of this research the artist selected was Jeanette Kuvin Oren. You may already be familiar with her work, as she is the designer of the USPS Hanukkah Stamp 2022.
Jeanette holds advanced degrees in public health and epidemiology from Princeton and Yale. In 1984, her career transitioned to commissioned art and graphic design. She now does this work full time and has created more than 450 pieces for a variety of Jewish institutions. Known for a variety of styles, from "traditional" with muted colors to contemporary with vibrant colors, she incorporates Jewish history and a knowledge of ritual and tradition into her art.
