Each year, as we begin the Torah anew with B’reishit, we are invited to step once again into the sacred story of creation. Reading this parasha always feels like a homecoming to me, as the opening words of B’reishit—“In the beginning, God created…”—were the first ones I ever lettered as a piece of art. This page from my soon-to-be-released new book, Illuminated Journey, showcases some of my earliest hand-lettered images.
When I began illustrating the Torah more than four decades ago, I didn’t yet know that I was engaging in a practice known as Visual Midrash—a way of interpreting sacred text through imagery. Rooted in the Jewish tradition of Midrash, which means “to seek” or “to interpret,” Visual Midrash allows artists to explore the emotional, spiritual, and symbolic dimensions of the text.
Here are a few more recent explorations of verses from this parasha.
As many of you know, most of my recent work is created using a hybrid process. I draw, letter, and paint on the board, and then compose the final image in PhotoShop.
Through color, texture, and form, I strive to illuminate the Torah’s deeper meanings—to make the ancient words feel alive and relevant—and to offer an invitation to see and feel the Divine presence that flows through creation. Just as classical Midrash expands the written text with stories and commentary, Visual Midrash invites us to interpret through creativity—to use art as a pathway to connection, reflection, and awe.
Whether through brushstrokes or pen lines, watercolor or ink, each mark becomes a form of prayer and a path to connection. Here’s my Torah illumination for B’reishit.
And here’s the prayer I wrote to accompany it:
B’reishit/ In the Beginning
Source of Creation,
In the beginning, You spoke light into darkness,
chaos into order, and called the world into being.
We thank You for the gift of life
and for embedding within each of us a spark of holiness.
Remind us to care for Your creation—
this fragile, wondrous planet and all who dwell upon it.
Help us embrace the creative spark within,
and use our gifts to bring beauty,
compassion, and justice into the world.
Guide us to live in harmony with one another,
to build communities rooted in kindness and respect,
and to honor the spark of divinity in every soul.
May we co-create—
through acts of kindness,
lives of purpose,
and words of love—
a better world.
Guided Journaling Prompts
- Creation and Creativity:
When have you felt a spark of Divine creativity flow through you? How do you nurture that spark in your daily life? - Light and Darkness:
What does it mean to “bring light into darkness” in your own experience? Where are you being called to illuminate? - Harmony and Holiness:
How might you use your unique gifts to bring more beauty, compassion, or justice into the world? - Return to the Beginning:
As we begin the Torah cycle anew, what new intentions will you set for your own journey of spiritual growth this year? - Art as Prayer:
If you were to create your own Visual Midrash, what verse, image, or theme would you choose to express through art?
Prayer for Engaging with Sacred Text through Art
Source of Creation,
May the spiritual practice
of delving into and illuminating sacred text—
creating Visual Midrash—
help me tap into the creative spark
You implanted within me.
May the intentions I set
to use the work of my hands
draw me closer to You,
and may Your Holy Light
shine through all I say and all I do.
May I be open to both
the blessing and the challenge
of this moment.
May I find new meaning
in rereading the parashiyot,
and grow in my understanding of Your word.
May I feel a deep connection to my heritage,
and may the Torah continue to be
an ongoing source of inspiration.
Closing Blessing
May the words of Torah
and the art it inspires
open your heart to wonder.
May you see the light within the darkness,
the sacred within the ordinary,
and a spark of Divinity within yourself.
May your creative spirit
be a source of healing and hope—
for you, for our community,
and for the world.