This week's art and religion blog is inspired by Monica who is a member of the UnGraven Image family of collectors. Monica began collecting through the eBay exclusive prints. I have her permission to include her email to me and use her first name and next comes my answer, which once I had finished, I knew was meant to be this week's blog and parts of this will turn into an article or two.

This is the second time a member of the family of collectors has inspired an article. The collectors are as important to changing the way we see the world as will be the other artists who will join with me in time, the dealers and gallery owners who will show the work, curators, etc. I am very grateful for such wonderful blessings as collectors such as Monica!

Here's Monica's letter:

“Dear Judy Rey,

Mere words cannot express how delighted I am with your work! Oh, Judy, it is exquisite! I very much appreciate your offer to return money from shipping [Editor's Note: the eBay check out was not accurately reflecting the shipping charge for combined purchases paid for at once and sent to the same address. eBay has since fixed the problem.] but cannot accept it as my winning bids were minimal, they were nothing and I prefer that you consider the few coins as part of my bid.

I look forward to purchasing more of your work in the next few months and sharing it with my friends.

If you would, please translate for me the characters you write beside your name. I don't know Hebrew... I'm simply a Christian who is falling more and more in love with the LORD through an ever deepening understanding of the Old Testament and the history of Israel .

I've fallen in love with your concept, your movement, and your work. I pray you prosper, and to quote you, are a blessing (you are) and be blessed. Shalom, Monica”

Monica,

Thank you for your encouraging and inspiring words and generosity of both spirit and matter.

In the middle of a crazy hectic deadline meeting day, I felt so inspired that I shoved it all aside to write to you.

The face/logo that is my signature is created from the letters of my Hebrew name, Yehudi Rachel. It means ewe (female sheep) of the Jews of tribe of Judah. Judah itself means Praise, so it could also mean “ewe of praise.” When I first began to paint using the Hebrew letters as symbols, I went to sign my painting as in English as I always had throughout my life, but felt a tug in my soul as if my hand was held back. My very earliest paintings are signed simply with my name is Hebrew. I only use my first and s econd name (I prefer to be called “Judy Rey”) as homage to Van Gogh who signed his paintings “Vincent”. I'll be writing more about the significance of names when I launch another series of paintings based upon proper names and vowels. After about five or six of the original and new UnGraven Image paintings, I began to play with the idea that what we name someone or something somewhat defines them/it. This comes from Genesis when the Lord gives Adam mankind's first job, to name the animals in the Garden of Eden. So, I developed my face out of my name in Hebrew. I began signing with it and then also with the Hebrew letters below the image to the right.. About a year ago I began signing with only the logo face.

Judy Rey Wasserman's Signature-Logo signature as used in Psalm 69 (Seagull)

Don't fret that you don't know Hebrew. I have been slowly learning it myself. I am an American and studied French in school. The idea that when the Lord created the universe it was through speaking Hebrew is theology that is fully held by all branches and denominations of Christians and Jews. That the Torah, also known as the Pentateuch, was originally written in Hebrew has never been in question. Christian scholars study what is often referred to as the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew!

I absolutely believe that Hebrew is the language of the Lord. I also think that therefore Christians and Jews would all benefit by being able to speak and read Hebrew. It makes sense to me that Christians who are trying to follow Jesus have every reason to adopt Hebrew since that is the language that was used in the Temple services and in prayer. I am eagerly awaiting someone to unearth ancient copies of texts in Hebrew such as the Sermon on the Mount and The Lord's Prayer.

Throughout history, until relatively recently when a rabbi delivered a learned or important address or sermon it was delivered in Hebrew! It is my contention that Jesus delivered many of his teachings in Hebrew and not Aramaic, especially to show they were spiritually significant. His audience and followers all spoke Hebrew as well as Aramaic. Somewhat out of respect for Hebrew, the holiness of Hebrew, they used Aramaic for daily speech.

Hebrew is the only dead language in the history of the world that has been resurrected. A dead language is one that is not spoken or used by people in their daily lives. Hebrew was resurrected after WWII when the Jewish people began to return to Israel . There was much debate whether to used Hebrew, which almost no one spoke or Yiddish, which most refugees spoke for the national and official language of Israel . Now Yiddish is a dying language, although many of its words have been adopted into other languages such as English and Hebrew.

Of course, taking an ancient language and turning it into a modern and vital one was not easy. Many new words to fit modern concepts and items (such as movies, cars, capitalism. etc.) had to be created. Some came from English, such as the word for radio, which sounds like our word but with a British accent!

Monica, being a “simple Christian” is a wondrous achievement because simplicity denotes a lack of ego. More of the Lord and less of oneself is what we all seek, or put another way, we seek to be who we were made to be.

As you study the history of Israel in the Old Testament keep in mind that it is indeed your history too. Possibly in several ways. First, as a Christian of any denomination or branch you are dedicated to following a Jew, Jesus. Think of playing follow-the-leader as a kid and then what I am saying will make sense.

The good Christians I know are really a lot more “Jewish” than they realize. Ponder the message, “These things that I do so too and even greater things shall ye do.”

Currently the Jewish people are made up of the tribes of Judah, Levy and the half tribe of Manasseh. We're missing nine and a half tribes! Where are these people? One day DNA testing will probably show us and you Monica may discover that you are indeed a part of the tribes Israel . This could be a part of what has motivated you to seek out and love the Lord.

I feel blessed that you write, “I've fallen in love with your concept, your movement, and your work.” I understand what you mean to say. My words cannot say how I appreciate your enthusiasm and appreciation, I am still quite human.

However, I am also aware that when you look at my work your eyes and conscious mind see an image, but that image is an illusion because what you really see is GD's Word. And hopefully, you will spiritually, or intuitively (I don't really have the correct words for this) be inspired to a greater “sense” the Words (letters) and Presence of the Lord everywhere, always. Great art has certainly inspired me and for me that is what art needs to be.

Yet, it is not my concept, my work or my movement. Aside from the obvious Great CEO who really is responsible and guides and inspires, it is also our concept, our work and our movement. Yours and mine , because Monica, you have embraced it. An idea or concept is one of the only things one can give away without diminishing it; in fact it will be enhanced. Just as your email inspired what will be a blog and not doubt a few articles, perhaps even chapters in books I'll be creating. You have become a part of this whole movement.

Each and every collector is a vital part of this art movement and ministry, because each collector by displaying the art is helping to change the way we see the world! Have friends over for a normal get-together, because whenever you do the art is there, dare I say evangelizing for the Lord, blessing those in your home and helping change the way we see the world. If more people begin to see or experience on a deeper level that the Words of the Lord are everywhere, or as the Jews say, “everything is Torah, we are walking in Torah,” then how we behave, how we treat each other in our daily life will change, one person at a time.

Thank you for your prayers. I need all the prayer I can get! Please pray for me not only to prosper but to prosper in the splendor of being closer to the Lord and more of who I am meant to be! And please pray for me to be a blessing because it is true that in giving we receive.

Thank you for being an inspiration, a colleague in this movement and a friend,

May you be a blessing and be blessed,

Judy Rey

FJanuary 23, 2006

[Note: the Logo-Signature continued to evolve. To learn more CLICK HERE