Submitted By: Scott Rhea

Description: Hand Sculpture with Ornate Star of David

A representatvie of a local Synogogue approached me about building a project for presentation during the Synogogues installation ceremony of their new Head Rabbi. They didn't really know what they wanted, but they wanted a sculpture that incorporated some Jewish symbols.

The sculpture I came up with is a combination of a couple of a Hamsa hand and Star of David. The hamsa hand (Arabic) or chamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and still popular amulet for magical protection from the evil eye known to draw positive energy, happiness, riches and health. The Chamsa’s (semitic root meaning five) includes five digits and symbolizes the Creator’s protective hand.

I used my Hossfeld Bender to create the 180 degree bends of the fingers out of 1" mild steel tubing and a roll bender for the sweeping curve of the lower bends. For the Star of David, I used my Miller Spectrum plasma cutter to cut the two triangles out of 3/8" plate as well as the center circles that the glass is mounted in. The hand was TIG welded together with my Miller Syncrowave. The glass was also done in house in our kiln with the children of the Synogogue placing the pieces before the the glass was fused. The glass is retained with a few roll cage gussets and is removable.