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New Judaic mosaics are available for sale by contacting the artist directly at (610) 668-9909.
Israel Family Mosaic This 6 foot diameter floor mosaic was made using porcelain tiles. The design features a Star of David made using a rope pattern. This pattern dates back to the 6th century AD. The Star of David is set in a bed of flowers. The center of the design features a menorah, the symbol of the State of Israel. The perimeter of the mosaic offers a quotation provided by the client, “Dedicated to those who follow in our name” and the names “Jay Israel and “Lee Israel” along with the year 2010 and the corresponding Hebrew calendar year 5770. This is an original design created by the artist, Jonathan Mandell for the Israel family burial plot. - Jonathan Mandell MFA C. 2010
Israel Family Mosaic 		Israel Family Mosaic This 6 foot diameter floor mosaic was made using porcelain tiles. The design features a Star of David made using a rope pattern. This pattern dates back to the 6th century AD. The Star of David is set in a bed of flowers. The center of the design features a menorah, the symbol of the State of Israel. The perimeter of the mosaic offers a quotation provided by the client, “Dedicated to those who follow in our name” and the names “Jay Israel and “Lee Israel” along with the year 2010 and the corresponding Hebrew calendar year 5770. This is an original design created by the artist, Jonathan Mandell for the Israel family burial plot. - Jonathan Mandell MFA C. 2010
Israel Family Mosaic- installed 		Israel Family Mosaic This 6 foot diameter floor mosaic was made using porcelain tiles. The design features a Star of David made using a rope pattern. This pattern dates back to the 6th century AD. The Star of David is set in a bed of flowers. The center of the design features a menorah, the symbol of the State of Israel. The perimeter of the mosaic offers a quotation provided by the client, “Dedicated to those who follow in our name” and the names “Jay Israel and “Lee Israel” along with the year 2010 and the corresponding Hebrew calendar year 5770. This is an original design created by the artist, Jonathan Mandell for the Israel family burial plot. - Jonathan Mandell MFA C. 2010
Israel Family Mosaic- installed- full view 		Timeline: History of the Jewish People This 10 ft. x 6 ft. mosaic is a timeline of the Jewish people from Eden to the future Messianic Era. In Eden the landscape is flat, referencing the perfection of stasis of Eden. The Path is the path of Judaism, as it winds through the landscape of time. The horizon line at this point has an orange silhouette indicating that this is the biblical era of miracles. This extends up to the Burning Bush. After Eden the next milepost is the Binding of Isaac. This is to reference the Covenant between G-d and man. Above is the ancient iconographic “Hand of G-d” which was used to indicate that a miracle had taken place in the mosaics of our heritage. Isaac is done in the Byzantine stylization of the Bet Alpha synagogue floor. Next on the path is Moses and the Burning Bush where our laws and Torah were revealed. The path continues to wind around to the era of King David to symbolize the Temple of Jerusalem. The Lion of Judah is on the Mountain top as well representing King David. Following this is the destruction of the Second Temple. Here the path bends as we approach the Era of the Synagogue. On the next mountain top is a man blowing the shofar, heralding in the Era of the Synagogue. The next icon is a detail from an ancient synagogue with a mosaic representation of the Ark of the Covenant retained within. The olive trees that scatter the landscape represent the knowledge and liturgy of our religion as it expands through time (Talmud, Mishna, etc.) The Era of the Synagogue leads into the Diaspora first through the HolyLand and eventually through the other continents. This icon of the ancient world map is given much prominence as it covers so many years through time. The diaspora gives way to two trees on either side of the path which represent the Ashkenazi and Sephardim branches. Examples of synagogues which represent these movements are shown, first a 14th century rendering of a Sephardi synagogue, next a 17th century Polish wooden synagogue, and eventually a 19th century Prague Jubilee synagogue. The next milestones to occur were the Holocaust and the eventual statehood of Israel. The trees, which represent the body of our religion, line the path to the future Messianic Era as they are eventuallyblended with doves of peace. Some icons lay to the side of the road such as the sacrificial lamb and the oil lamps of the Temple, other icons stay the course. There is a shadow cast across the landscape from the icon of the Temple down to the present era. This mosaic is made using: ceramic tile, glass gems, iridescent glass tile, citrine, peridot, amethyst, carnelian, white quartz, rose quartz, thulite, leopardskin jasper, yellow jasper, yellow quartz, pyrite, hematite, abalone, shell, crazylace agate, mirror, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, sodalite, turquoise, parrotwing stone, red tiger eye, jade, aventurine, zebra marble, Jerusalem stone, and river washed stones.
Timeline: History of the Jewish People -commission for the Hillel of the University of Pennsylvania
Timeline: History of the Jewish People -detail Jerusalem Map

Timeline: History of the Jewish People -detail Adam and Eve 		Jewish Exponent Mosaic This three foot by four foot mosaic was commissioned by the Jewish Publishing group to honor the leadership role that The Jewish Exponent plays within the community via the press. The mosaic features the Exponent logo cut in blue bahi granite the word “One” within Exponent is highlighted in yellow travertine marble. The word “Jewish” is cut in brown marble. The logo is set in front of a bed of citrine and two sections of a septarian calcite slab to convey a flame effect. The allegory is a flame of knowledge being spread over the landscape by the Exponent. The four directional signs are North, sodalite (blue): South, red jasper, East, golden tiger-eye and West, mariposite (green and white). The lettering for the quotations is in copper. This mosaic is located in the lobby of the Jewish Federation Building at 2100 Arch St. in Philadelphia, Pa. -Jonathan Mandell, c. 2004
The Jewish Exponent - in lobby of Jewish Federation building, Philadelphia, PA -commission 		This 5
Jewish Exponent/ Federation Give Away plaque -commission 		Perelman Center for Jewish Life The University of Pennsylvania This 3 ft x 4 ft mosaic was designed to represent the various functions of the Lubavitch House at the University of Pennsylvania. The Lubavitch House will soon be rededicated in honor of patron Ronald Perelman. It will be known as the Perelman Center for Jewish Life. The mosaic is meant to combine the characteristics of the Lubavitch along with a feel for the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The section on the left illustrates a Shabbat dinner. with candles lit and table set. The candle flames are made using citrine. the wine glasses are made using amethyst. The utensils are made using aluminum. Note the yarmulke made with Penn’s colors. The section on the top shows the students posed in front of a menorah. The menorah is made using copper. The flames are citrine. The section to the right features the iconic life sized sculpture of Ben Franklin seated on a park bench from Locust Walk. The Ben Franklin detail is made using an iridescent glass tile with a bronze coloring. The bottom section shows the students having a discussion around the table with lesson being imparted.
Perelman Center for Jewish Life, University of Pennsylvania -commission 		Ma’ayanot This 60” x 36” mosaic was commissioned by the Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School of Girls in Teaneck, New Jersey. It is a donor recognition piece. It is to be located in their lobby, surrounded by donor name plaques. The mosaic is an effort to depict the various activities within the Ma’ayanot experience. The mosaic features the matriarch Rebecca pouring water at the well . The walls of the well are made using leopard skin jasper. The water in the well is glass. Her water jug is made using copper Water is the allegorical conduit through which knowledge and experience flow. Ma’ayanot has adopted the wave as its symbol. The water’s depiction is made with ceramic tile and mirror. The mirror adds a kinetic quality to the water image. The first scene in the water features two girls studying. The text they are reading is made using zebra marble. The next vignette show dance. After this is a scene of Ma’ayanot girls participating in a parade. Below this is a girl reading. Next along the path is a rendering of the award winning Ma’ayanot hockey team. The jerseys are made using amazonite, a teal quartz variety and their trophy is made using brass. Lastly, in the lower left, is a depiction of graduates. The name Ma’ayanot is rendered in both Hebrew and English in the mosaic. -Jonathan Mandell c. 2008
Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School of Girls- commission
Sacred Realm This mosaic was created for the Sacred Realm exhibition. It is a derivative of the mosaic floors of the ancient synagogues. The center features a representation of the Temple of Jerusalem. It features tigereye columns and an interior of alternative rhodonite (pink) and aventurine (teal) with pyrite (gold) in the very center. The roof is trimmed in black iridescent marbles with clear glass gems and river-washed stones with a fragment of a pyrite “dollar” in the center. The Temple is amid a field of snowflake obsidian (black). Beneath the Temple is a decorative motif created from zoisite (green and black) and mariposite (white and green) with purple fluorite octahedral. Outside the Temple is a band of cobalt and white frosted marbles forming images of the stars, sun, and moon. Outside of this is a band of translucent glass gems featuring the zodiac symbols in ceramic tile. This is contained by a ring of frosted glass gems. The four corners of the circle of the zodiac illustrate miracles. The upper left relates the story of Noah’s Ark, utilizing ceramic tile, glass gems, and fragments of petrified wood, rhodonite, and leopardskin agate. Continuing clockwise, the upper right corner features a Pascal lamb image created from turritella agate (mini seashells), sagenite (lamb’s head), amethystine (lamb’s legs), and ceramic tile. Behind the lamb is a doorpost with the lamb’s blood forming the Hebrew letter “shin,” indicating a mezuzah. The doors are made of pyrite. Under this scene is an image of the Burning Bush made from ceramic tile and tigereye (Moses’ staff). To the left is a representation of the Sacrifice of Isaac. This is derived from the Beth Alpha Synagogue floor. It is comprised of ceramic tile, tigereye, and mirror. The perimeter shows images of Jewish iconography. In the upper left corner are the Lions of Judah. This is created from ceramic tile with a crown made of pyrite, galena, and fluorite. Continuing clockwise, to the right of this the phrase, “Peace Unto Israel” is made up of ceramic tile, fluorite, pyrite, and in the center a septarian nodule. To the right of this is as Dove with an Olive Branch. This section features ceramic tile, leopardskin agate (the branch), aventurine (the leaves), and carnelian (the dove’s feet). Next is as Passover section featuring a Wine Chalice made from crazylace agate (the cup), and sodalite (the stem of the chalice). The grapes are made of amethyst, leopardskin agate (the stem), and amazonite (the leaves). The Seder plate is made from ceramic tile, petrified wood (the rim of the Seder plate), and a fluorite tetradecahedron (center). The Matzah is made from ceramic tile. Below this is an image of the Ten Commandments created out of ceramic tile and iridescent glass gems. On the bottom right is a Menorah made of stained glass and ceramic tile, with carnelian flame tips. To the left are a Lulav and Etrog made from ceramic tile, jade (leaves), aventurine (leaves), and leopardskin agate (the branches). Continuing clockwise, on the lower left-side panel is a Shofar made from abalone and ceramic tile. Above this is an image of the Garden of Eden, created from ceramic tile, mirror, picture jasper (the land), porphyry (the tree trunk), leopardskin agate (the serpent), rhodonite (the serpent’s tongue), and iridescent glass marbles (the apples). The mosaic measures 60” x 60” Jonathan I. Mandell © 1996
Sacred Realm, -sold, Temple Beth Hillel, Wynnewood, PA 		Sacred Realm -Detail of mosaic surface
Sacred Realm -Detail 		Perelman Jewish Day School The center of the mosaic features the Perelman Jewish Day School logo, made from abalone, pyrite, and mirror. The laurel leaves are jade, and the decorative element is blue fluorite. Going clockwise, the Rosh Hashanah section features a shofar made of picture jasper with a snowflake obsidian background. Yom Kippur is depicted with a scale made of river-washed stones, seashells, copper, yellow fluorite, and hematite. Sukkot has children decorating a sukka. The sky is sodalite and the sides of the sukka have shells. Simhat Torah shows a Torah with a cover made of rhodonite and Australian tigereye. The spindles are hematite and pyrite. Hanukkah is depicted with a spinning dreidle. Its knob is a glass marble. TuB’Shevat shows trees made of territella agate and glass gems. Purim is indicated with a megillah made of leopardskin jasper with a spindle made of hematite and pyrite. Pesach shows a seder with a teacher and children. The wine chalice is pyrite. Yom Ha-Shoah is represented with six flames. The bases of the flames are golden tigereye. Yom Ha-Atzma’ut has an Israeli flag made of chrysicolla with a pole made of galena. The background is stained glass. Lag B’Omer is depicted with archers. Legend has it that pretending to hunt, Rabbi Akiva’s students took bows and arrows into the woods, only to study Torah. Jerusalem Day is represented with a dove holding an olive branch in its mouth. The olive branch has leaves made of jade. Shavuot is depicted by fruit and flowers. The grapes are amethyst and glass gems. Tisha B’Av features the wailing wall as a reminder of the destruction of the Temple. The four corners depict the four seasons as they roughly apply to the holidays around the year. Summer is written in jade. Fall is written in hickoryite. Winter features sodalite lettering, and spring is done in rhodonite. The corners are decorated with amethyst crystals and glass gems. The mosaic is 60” x 60”. Created in 1998, it was commissioned by the Robert Saligman Charitable Foundation. Jonathan I. Mandell, MFA
Perelman Jewish Day School, Wynnewood, PA -commission 		Detail of Perelman Schechter Day School mosaic surface.
Perelman Schechter Day School -detail 		Bet Shalom Mosaic Mosaic art has played a role in synagogues since their very inception. Our heritage literally comes to life through their timeless imagery. Israel is rich with these archaeological treasures. A few prime examples are the Byzantine stylization of the Synagogue of Bet Alpha (6th Century) and the Hellenistic stylization of the Synagogue of Hammath (4th Century). I am attempting, with this mosaic, to push this rich history along another notch, in another time in our history. This mosaic was created for Bet Shalom synagogue in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The center medallion has the Bet Shalom logo in flames. The leaves are jade and the four yellow pyramids that rise off the surface are fluorite octahedrons. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur have an iridescent glass tile as a ground. The shofar is made from abalone. The scales are made from brass, golden pietersite, and a pyrite crystal flower. Continuing around clockwise, the Sukkot section has a sky made from sodalite (blue and white). There are also river-washed stones and red iridescent marbles and carnelian (orange) in the fruit basket. The Torah for Simcha Torah is orange gneiss with serpentine poles and pyrite finials. The breastplate is abalone and the chain is galena. For Hanukkah, the night sky is snowflake obsidian (volcanic glass). The flames are carnelian. The menorah is nickel. For Tu-bishvat, the ground is Mexican tile. For Purim, the gragers are brass and nickel. The Megillah on the rear wall is leopardskin jasper and hematite. The girl’s pink dress is rhodonite. For Passover, the salt water in the middle of the Seder plate is blue lace agate; the wine chalice is abalone with chevron amethyst for the red wine. For Holocaust Remembrance Day, I used Australian tigereye for the flames (it has a red and gold shimmer) and nickel for the torch handles. The letters is in copper. For Israel Independence Day, the flag has chrysocolla for the blue and a brass pole. For Lag B’Omer, the arrow has a head made from picture jasper and tail fins made from petrified wood. The body of the arrow is Pergo laminate flooring. Jerusalem Day is a rendering of an ancient map of Jerusalem, with an enlarged image of leaves made from parrotwing jasper. The green and purple grapes are glass gems. Tisha B’av has an image of the Temple based on an image from a 17th century Hagaddah. Top center is a septarian nodule cross section (calcite, aragonite, and limestone). It is like an eternal eye or flame. The grapes are glass gems. The wine chalices are nickel with golden tigereye for the wine. The spice box is made from abalone with a pyrite knob. It opens for the insertion of spices, to add an olfactory quality to the mosaic. The candle flames are citrine crystals. The tiles on the candles are glass mosaic. The candlestick holders are silver. This mosaic is 92” x 112”. Jonathan I. Mandell, MFA © 2002
Bet Shalom Synagogue, Minnetonka, MN -commission
Western Wall This mosaic was made for the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life in Horsham, Pennsylvania. It is positioned in a room separating the main social space and the synagogue. The frame is made with ceramic tile, glass gems, lepidolite, and citrine. Jerusalem stone is used to depict the wall and the ground. The plant growth emanating from the wall is made with a green and white agate. The figures at the wall are divided with a fence, as in life, with the men on the left and the women on the right. The figures are decorated with various stones, including turquoise, red jasper, galena, pyrite, snowflake obsidian, tigereye, blue lace agate, unakite, amethyst, abalone, white iridescent shell, rhodochrosite, maraposite, yellow dendrite, green dendrite, picture jasper, white quartz, rhodonite, steel wire, and mirror. The grout joints have been left open at the wall, thus adding an interactive quality to the mosaic. Residents and guests of the Center can insert notes in between the stones of the wall. These notes will then be sent to Israel on a regular basis. The mosaic is 99” x 44” x 2”. It is wall mounted. Jonathan I. Mandell, MFA © 2001
Western Wall, Abramson Center for Jewish Life, Horsham, PA -commission 		Olive Tree This mosaic was created for Adad Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C. The mosaic envelopes the viewer, wrapping aroung three walls. It also has a valance in front. It is decorated with amethyst and fluorite and glass gems.
Olive Tree, Adas Israel Synagogue Washington, D.C. -commission 		Beth Sholom- The Jewish Path The imagery of this mosaic symbolizes the Jewish peoples pursuit of their religion through the practice of its rituals and through an adherence to its ideals. The center has the lion laying by the lamb, referencing the Messianic Era, the ultimate manifestation of Gods perfection. They are framed within an abstracted crown, signifying that they exist within the Kingdom of God. The geometry of the crown also alludes to the Star of David with its six points. The points have jewel-like forms adorning them. They also divide the surface, acting as six radii. For the six fields along the perimeter, I have chosen the pictured icons to symbolize the Jewish people (both religion and culture). The dove symbol, repeated, represents the Jewish people striving to be God-like. The icons of the shofar, the lulav and etrog, and seder plate represent the pursuit of Judaisms rituals. The border, along the perimeter, is a motif of fruits (grapes, pears, and plums) and leaves, to symbolize the sweetness and beauty of God. This mosaic is made with 12 different varieties of marble and one granite, blue bahi. The metal used in the crown is zinc. The jewels of the crown are red jasper, sodalite (blue), and aventurine (green). Jonathan I. Mandell © 2000
Jewish Path, Beth Sholom, Las Vegas, NV -Floor mosaic -commission 		Ark, Gratz College, Melrose Park, PA This ark was created for the chapel at Gratz College. It has a built in eternal light, set at the top of the cabinet behind a stained glass star of david. The ark features pocket doors and locked storage below. It is 96inches by 66 inches by 22 inches deep.
Ark, Gratz College, Melrose Park, PA -commission 		Jewish Publication Society Lifetime Achievement Award This 18”x 18” mosaic was created for the Jewish Publication Society for use as an annual award. This first one is to be given posthumously to the family of author, Chaim Potok. The mosaic features a tree, as does the JPS logo. The tree bark is made from bronzite. The foliage of tree is zoisite. This stone features small patches of granulated ruby mixed into the green zoisite and black matrix. At the base of the tree is a rising sun made from carnelian and citrine. Below the tree is an image of an open book in perspective. The sky is made with glass gems. The frame is ceramic tile with glass gems and citrine crystals creating fleurets in the corners. -Jonathan Mandell, c. 2003
Jewish Publication Society Lifetime Achievement Award -commission
Temple Israel This mosaic was commissioned by Temple Israel of Swampscott, Massachusetts, to honor the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary. The inscription, “L’Dor va Dor,” from generation to generation, was selected as the mosaic’s theme. The main section, below the inscription, illustrates the architecture of the Synagogue’s cupola sanctuary. This image also features a wedding ceremony taking place on the bimah. The stained glass is represented with amethyst chevrons (triangular banding) and white quartz. The eternal light is made of pyrite, as are the tips of the two menorahs. The United States flag is made of petrified wood (the stripes) and sodalite (the blue corner). The Israel flag is chrysocolla. The pillars of the chuppah are mirror. The handrails by the bimah stairs are abalone. The scene to the right is of a bar mitzvah. The setting is a zoom in on the sanctuary’s bimah. The sequence with the stained glass and the eternal light is repeated. The ark is made from granite and iridescent glass gems. The Torah is amethyst, with abalone breastplates and pyrite and galena finials. The spindles of the open Torah are iridescent glass as well. The section to the left features a Shabbat ceremony. The candlestick holders are abalone. The wine glass is mirror. The sky in the window is sodalite. The girl with the yellow hair is wearing a unakite dress. The remainder of the mosaic is ceramic tile. This mosaic measures 36” x 48”. Jonathan I. Mandell © 1998
Temple Israel Swampscott, MA -commission 		Temple Israel -Detail of wedding scene under wedding tent.
Temple Israel-Detail 		Temple Adath Israel This mosaic was created to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Temple Adath Israel, 1946-1996. The central image, the exterior of the Synagogue, has a sky made of sodalite. The cupola is golden tigereye. The triangular stained glass windows are brought to life with Australian tigereye. The landscaped bed in the foreground has two bushes; the near one is aventurine, the far one is jade. The soil around them is unakite. The upper right corner depicts the sanctuary. The glow of the cupola’s stained glass is captured using chrysocolla. The triangular windows, which were viewed from the outside in the central panel, can here be seen from the inside perspective. They are blue lace agate. The rear wall of the bimah is represented with mahogany obsidian. The eternal light is pyrite. The aliyah chairs are yellow jasper, and the handrails are abalone. The tiny Israeli flag in the balcony section is made of chrysocolla with the flag pole being galena. The section below this, the wedding sequence, features Australian tigereye for the rear wall of the bimah. The aliyah chairs are yellow jasper and the posts of the chuppah are abalone. The bride’s bouquet is pyrite. The floral decorations to the sides of the aisle are rose quartz. Three audience members have mirror shards below their eyes as tears. Continuing clockwise, the next image is a children’s “Shabbat King” ceremony. The Torah in the boy’s hand is made of rhodonite with tigereye trim. Its handles are galena. The scene in the lower left is the chapel, recreated with rose quartz on the rear wall and stained glass represented with blue fluorite and glass gems. The column is picture jasper, as is the centerpiece in the lectern. The bar mitzvah scene in the upper left features mahogany obsidian below the ark doors. The Torahs are created with amethyst. Their crowns and breastplates are made from abalone, galena, and pyrite. The metal calligraphy on the ark doors is made with abalone. The boy’s yarmulka is turquoise. His Torah is chevron amethyst with hematite handles. The dad’s tie is forest fire jasper. Rabbi Kazan’s robe is made from iridescent seashells. His glasses are abalone. The remainder of the mosaic is ceramic tile. It measures 65” long x 38” high. Jonathan I. Mandell © 1997
Temple Adath Israel Merion, PA -commission 		This mosaic was created for the American Friends of Hebrew University. It is at their New York Headquarters. It features the campus on Mt. Scopus in the center. The various graduate schools are represented around the perimeter. The upper left corner has a represention of the caduceus, signifying the Faculty of Medicine. The serpents are made from leopardskin jasper. The staff is pyrite capped with iridescent marble. The wings are white quartz. The ground is ceramic tile. Moving clockwise, the next section represents the School of Veterinary Medicine with an image of a horse, a cow and a dog. The sky is made of sodalite. The next section depicts the Faculty of Science with the atomic symbol. The atomic spheres are marbles and the rings are hammered brass. In the right corner is a symbolic representation for the Rothberg School for Overseas Students. It is depicted by a bridge whose keystone is emblazoned with the Hebrew University's logo torch. The face of the bridge contains the Hebrew quote,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem -commission 		Jewish Federation and United Way Mosaic This mosaic was created by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the United Way to commemorate their working together. It is 36 inches by 48 inches. It is made with cermaic tile, copper and pyrite. -Jonathan Mandell c.1997
Jewish Federation and United Way Mosaic -commission
Jewish Federation Tzedakah Box This mosaic is a 3 dimensional tzedakah or charity box. It is at the Philadelphia headquarters of Jewish Federation in their lobby. It is 33 inches tall by 18 inches by 18 inches. There is a slot at the top for donations and a locking door in the rear. It is made of ceramic tile and pyrite with iridescent shells decorating the top. -Joanthan Mandell c.2000
Jewish Federation Tzedakah Box -commission 		Time Capsule This mosaic time capsule was commissioned by the National Museum of American Jewish History for their 1999 gala event. It will house video and photographic images along with printed materials about the Museum and its constituents. It is to be sealed for 100 years, after which future generations will be able to experience their ancestors’ words and pictures. The lid features a rendering of the sculpture, Religious Liberty, which was created by Sir Moses Jacob Ezekiel for Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition in 1876. The four corners of the lid feature green fluorite octohera. The female liberty’s cap has stars made of abalone. Her shirt is territella agate. The eagle’s body is an agate, and the serpent is made from leopardskin jasper and rhodonite. The plinth is granite, and the decorative detail on either side of the lettering, “Religious Liberty,” is pyrite and purple fluorite. The sides of the box feature names of patrons of the museum. Each name has a pyrite square set before and after it. Above and below the pyrite squares are 24 different semiprecious stones and minerals that repeat throughout the four sides. They are listed, going clockwise around each name and then across each row. Amethyst, leopardskin jasper, rhodonite, crazylace agate, sodalite, orange gneiss, jade, yellow dolomite, lepidolite, snowflake obsidian, forrest fire jasper, territella agate, fossilized algae, chrysocolla, tigereye, red hickoryite, maraposite, turquoise, moss agate, yellow hickoryite, zosite, picture jasper, fancy jasper, and unakite. The mosaic measures 24” x 24” x 24”. Jonathan I. Mandell © 1999
Time Capsule-National Museum of American Jewish History -commission 		Time Capsule -Lid detail, mosaic rendering of Religious Liberty sculpture
Time Capsule -Lid detail 		Lions of Judah This mosaic, “Lions of Judah,” was created for the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. It was part of their fortieth anniversary exhibit, Lion Invitational. The lions are made of ceramic tile with tigereye for the eyes. The crown is made of galena, pyrite, abalone, and yellow and purple fluorite. This mosaic is 36” x 36”. Jonathan I. Mandell, MFA © 1997
Lions of Judah -sold 		Burning Bush This mosaic was commissioned by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. It is located in their main lobby. The mosaic is emblematic of their logo, the Burning Bush. Its stylization is derivative of the floor mosaics of the Bet Alpha synagogue in Israel. The “frame” is made from iridescent glass gems and amethyst crystals. The hand of God is made of rhodonite (pink). His sleeve is abalone with a pyrite cuff. The leaves of the bush are made of parrotwing stone [a mixture of malachite (green), chrysocolla (blue), and hematite (red)], green quartz, and jade. The trunk of the bush is leopardskin jasper. The English lettering is petrified wood and forest fire jasper. The hillside is decorated with sundial shells. Moses’ eyes are crazy lace agate; his mouth is forest fire jasper. Moses’ cane is tigereye. The ram’s coat is territella agate (mini-fossilized seashells). The ram’s horn is hickorite, his eye is abalone, and his legs are dolomite. The Hebrew lettering is lepidolite (lavender). The remainder of the image is created with ceramic tile. The mosaic measures 60” x 60”. Jonathan I. Mandell, MFA © 1997
Burning Bush, Jewish Theological Seminary, NY -commission
Torah Processional This mosaic was created for the inaugural exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania’s Hillel in the new Steinhardt Hall. This mosaic is 36 inches by 36 inches. It features a frame made of clear and black glass gems with orange citrine fleurets in the corners. The bimah is based on the bimah from Adath Israel in Merion. The back wall is made from abalone. The framing around the Ark is tiger eye. The Torahs are chevron amethyst and abalone. The eternal light is shell. The bar mitzvah boy is holding a Torah which is also made using chevron amethyst and abalone. Behind him in the processional are his parents. The mother’s dress is rhodonite. The congregants are touching the Torah with their prayer books to then kiss. The woman to the left of the bar mitzvah boy has a dress made of petrefied wood. The men’s yarmulkes are made from rose quartz, white quartz, carnelian, and blue lace agate. -Jonathan Mandell c. 2003
Torah Processional - for sale, contact the artist 		Hora Dance This mosaic was created for the inaugural exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania’s Hillel in the new Steinhardt Hall. This mosaic is 36 inches by 36 inches. It features a hora dance with the musicians in the upper left corner. The frame is made of iridescent pink and glossy black glass gems. The corners have amethyst crystals combined with green glass gems to create a fleuret design. The back wall of the scene is made from iridescent glass mosaic. The musicians’ horns are made with brass. The singer’s microphone is nickel. Her dress is turitella agate and her bracelet is pyrite. The man in the upper right corner is holding up a wine glass made from amethyst and white quartz. The men’s yarmulkes are made from a variety of stones including blue lace agate, rose quartz, carnelian and zebra marble. The woman directly below the band has a dress made from chevron amethyst. To her right, the man in the white shirt has a snowflake obsidian necktie. The woman to his right is wearing a dress made from leopard skin jasper. Below her is a woman who’s dress is rhodonite. The man below her has a tie made of hickoryite. The woman beneath him has a necklace made of peridot and citrine. The woman to her left has a dress made of red braciated jasper and hematite-tiger eye. Her eyes are mirror. The man in the corner has a tie made of yellow jasper. -Jonathan Mandell c. 2003
Hora Dance -for sale contact the artist 		I Am My Beloved’s This mosaic wedding scene is based on photography from the event in Naples, Florida. It features columns made of granite. The palm trees have jade leaves with leopardskin jasper bark. The flowers at the base of the columns are rose quartz with glass gems as leaves. The bride’s veil and the yarmulkes are white quartz. The wedding band is pyrite. The wine glass is made of hickoryite with a mirror stem. The ketuva is leopardskin jasper. The Rabbi’s prayer book is picture jasper; his half-glasses are abalone. The bride’s eye is turquoise. The remainder of the surface is ceramic tile. This mosaic is 36” x 36”. Jonathan I. Mandell © 1999
I am my Beloved's -available for sale, contact the artist 		Wedding This mosaic was exhibited by the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. in their Realm Between Realms show. In the upper left corner is the hand of God touching the chuppah. It is made of pyrite, galena, and ceramic tile. The finial on the top of the post supporting the chuppah is a purple fluorite crystal. The aisle is made of iridescent glass gems. The woman in the lower right has mirror for eyes. The man in the second row has a necktie made of dyed crazy lace agate. This mosaic is 20” x 20” Jonathan I. Mandell
Wedding -sold 		Bar Mitzvah This mosaic was exhibited by the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. in their Realm Between Realms show. It features glass gems bordering the ark doors. The reading desk is forest fire jasper. The open Torah is made of hematite and galena. The closed Torah is made of blue lace agate, tigereye, hematite, and galena. The cushions of the stands are rhodonite. The rabbi’s yarmulka is turquoise. The dad’s yarmulka is abalone, as is the boy’s necktie. This mosaic is 20” x 20”. Jonathan I. Mandell
Bar Mitzvah -sold
Yom Kippur This mosaic is made entirely from ceramic tile, except for the man’s yarmulka, which is blue granite. As is customary during Yom Kippur services, the Jew is prostrated in prayer. The silhouetted figure on the hilltop is blowing the shofar. The diagonal bands radiating to the left and right represent the spiritual course we chart during the High Holidays. This mosaic is 20” x 20”. Jonathan I. Mandell © 1997
Yom Kippur -sold 		Garden of Eden This mosaic features apples made from iridescent glass marbles. The serpent is made from leopardskin jasper. His tongue is rhodonite. The ground is picture jasper. The sky is stained glass. Adam and Eve’s eyes and the ring around the scene is mirror. The corners are decorated with citrine crystals and glass gems. The field is made of water-washed stones. This mosaic is 20” x 20”. Jonathan I. Mandell
Garden of Eden -sold 		Garden of Eden II This mosaic is 24”x24”. The Eden scene is situated on a bed of river washed stone. The corners are decorated with fleurets created out of glass gems and amethyst crystals. The leaves of the tree are made using olivine/ peridot. The apples are iridescent red marbles. The serpent is hickoryite. Its eye is made from a natural formation within the hickoryite. The serpent’s tongue is rhodonite. The flowers below are made using a combination of: white quartz, carnelian, amethyst, yellow quartz, rhodonite, yellow jasper, rhodochrosite, leopard skin jasper, citrine. The scene of Eden is surrounded by a ring of mirror. The viewer sees themselves, but outside of the perimeters of Eden. -Jonathan Mandell, MFA c. 2003
Garden of Eden II -commission 		Binding of Isaac This mosaic is currently on display in the traveling exhibition, the Binding of Isaac. This show was organized by the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. in cooperation with the Creighton University Art Gallery in Omaha, Nebraska. The image is based on the Bet Alpha Synagogue floor in Israel. The Hebrew inscription reads “Brit Milah.” This refers to the ritual circumcision as signified in the Covenant God made with Abraham. The hand of God is made from abalone, hematite, and pyrite. The ram is made of ceramic tile with territella agate as his coat. His eye and his horn (shofar) are abalone. The tree he is tied to is made of ceramic tile and glass gems. Abraham’s sword is mirror and its handle is tigereye. Isaac’s eyes are chrysicolla. To the right is the sacrificial altar. This mosaic is 20” x 20”. Jonathan I. Mandell © 1997
Binding of Isaac -available for sale, contact the artist 		Madonna and Child This mosaic features the Madonna and Child theme based loosely on the painting, The Madonna of the Cherries, attributed to the Flemish painter, Joos Van Cleve (c. 1485-1540) from the collection of LaSalle University Art Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mosaic is made primarily from ceramic tile. The halos are made from pyrite. The mountains are territella agate, and the cherries are made of glass gems. The mosaic is 16” x 20”. Jonathan I. Mandell, MFA © 1998
Madonna and Child -sold
Burning Bush Donor Name This is an example if a mosaiced name. As each donation was made, a mosaic name was individually created to hang on a memorial wall (Yortsite). In the Jewish tradition, a light is illuminated by memorial names. Here a natural light is made using pyrite cubes before and after each name. -Jonathan Mandell c.1997
Burning Bush Donor Name -commission
 
 
 
Copyright © 2004 Jonathan Mandell Designs, Inc.