Angela's Shiru L’Adonai Shir Chadash Custom Tallit

One of the things I love most about being a Judaica artist is the opportunity to become part of people's stories. Through my ketubah work, I've had the privilege of meeting countless couples as they begin their lives together. What I never expected was that creating custom tallits would introduce me to such a wide, rich tapestry of life experiences.

That's how I had the fortune of meeting Angela, and getting to know her moving story. 

Angela has been married to her Jewish husband for nearly 34 years. During that time, they raised two amazing Jewish children, participated in synagogue services and committees, yet she was always aware of a boundary that she never crossed: that of becoming a Jew.

In Angela's words:

I’m often reminded of the song from Dear Evan Hansen “Waving Through a Window” that expresses what it feels like to see yourself so close to a community, but not really becoming part of it.  Conversion feels like opening the window and climbing through to truly become one with my community.

So what prompted Angela to decide to take this huge step after so many years?

A phrase from Psalms, Shiru L’Adonai Shir Chadash - sing to God a new song, captures my conversion story in just a few words.  Still, there are so many layers to unpack and to share about my journey from living a Jewish life to becoming Jewish.  Events of this past year gave me the nudge I needed to cross the threshold and begin singing my own song within Judaism.  

Within a 6 months timeframe, we lost 2 parents, left our jobs, and my husband was diagnosed with lymphoma. These major life events made me realize that life is precious. I felt invisible spiritually even though we had been living a Jewish life for many years.  I would go through the motions during services, but didn’t feel truly connected to God.  I asked myself “what have I been waiting for?”  I was so focused on taking care of my family that I failed to look inside to fulfill my needs.  The path had been right in front of me the entire time.  I just needed to find my voice and join in harmony with my Jewish family.

And what better way to mark this huge moment than with a custom painted tallit? 

Angela and I met over Zoom and brainstormed ideas for her heirloom bespoke tallit. She had a pretty clear vision already, and it definitely got my creative juices flowing. Here is the list Angela and I put together:

• The 2 birds "chatting" on the branch with musical notes surrounding them - Resonates with my empathy — tuning into and connecting with others’ feelings
• Song / voice / expression
• Repair the world through voice, presence, expression
• In Torah, shira happens at moments of transformation — when something has been crossed, repaired, or revealed
  • Shirat HaYam — the Song at the Sea
  • Sung after liberation, when the people finally realize they are free.
  • Biblical poetry and psalms — song as prayer when words alone are not enough.
  • Niggunim — wordless melodies that hold grief, hope, and healing at once.
• Shira is what emerges when the soul needs a voice
• Shira repairs the world by:
  • Giving voice to pain and hope
  • Creating connection where there is silence
  • Helping people feel seen and less alone
  • Turning experience into meaning
  • watercolor background like Pink, Purple, and Teal Music Notes Tallit
  • boldness of the Stained Glass Tree of Life Tallit
  • Some imagery that may surround Shira:  Water, birds, wind, flowing lines, music or wave patterns, soft watercolor palettes

Angela also sent me some photos from around her home for color inspiration. This helped me get a really good sense of her taste and aesthetic. 

And with that, I was ready to get to work! 

Here are the sketches I created for Angela:

Angela loved Sketch C, but decided to opt out of the earth in the middle. She didn't want her tallit to be too busy. I agreed!

And with that, I got to painting.

My process for creating custom tallits includes painting on paper first, which allows me to use all my favorite materials such as watercolor and gold leaf. Then I transfer the art to fabric. That way, the painting maintains that watercolor texture, while also being durable for long time wear and washable.

 After painting and sewing, I was so excited about how Angela's tallit came together! 

Every project is unique, and each reminds me of the many ways Jewish ritual objects can help mark life's most meaningful milestones. Angela's custom tallit took this to the next level.

Here is Angela again: 

I’ve chosen the Hebrew name, Shira bat Sara.  During my research, I wanted to find a name that captured my empathetic nature and my goals to support our community through chesed in order to make the world a better place. The name Shira, or song, represents my desire to connect with others through voice, active listening and presence.  Music and song are such strong tools for connection.  I think of the quote, “Where words fail, music speaks”, which to me represents the power of music in our world.  Becoming Shira bat Sara fully expresses my commitment to Judaism by resonating with others in order to repair the world through empathy, voice, presence and lifting up others. I’ve selected a phrase from Psalms, “Shiru L’Adonai Shir Chadash - sing to God a new song” to have embroidered on my tallit.  It represents my conversion  - a new name, a new song - yet, it represents the theme of singing (empathy) that has resonated with me throughout my life. It feels like a perfect fit for taking my journey from living a Jewish life to becoming Jewish and using my voice to lift up others through chesed, mitzvot and community. Here are some additional notes/themes that helped me as Anna and I worked together to create this masterpiece!

Angela gave me the most incredible gift. She had her husband film her when she opened her tallit! I almost never get to see people's reactions when they first see their tallit. It made me cry. 

Angela told me she is most excited to wear her tallit to Shabbat Services.

I am excited just to wear it weekly at Shabbat services.  That may sound a bit anticlimactic, but after living a Jewish life for 33 years and not being Jewish I am excited to fully experience my closeness to G-d through wearing the tallit, coming up to the bimah for an aliyah, and hopefully in a few years (when I learn more Hebrew) reading from the Torah.

Mazel Tov Angela and welcome to the tribe! We are so lucky to have you. May you wear your new tallit for many joyful, meaningful, and fulfilling moments. L'chaim!