Through the language of the Sefirot, G*d is expressed in ten manifestations or emanations, as it were, like kindness, strength and beauty. All of these manifestations have avenues of connection to one another. We imagine these energies in triangles forming triads of relationships.
The chuppah design is inspired by the diagonal connections shown on many illustrations of the sefirot. Each emanation is connected to others and all are connected to Tiferet, beauty, in the center. While the diagonals illustrate the connections between the sefirah, the diagonals of the chuppah design offer stability to the structure.
Susan Shender, a native of Chicago, lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She is a retired architect and had a practice for over thirty years. Susan started Sukkah Soul with the design of the sukkah kit in response to the study of Jewish texts and sources. For Susan, text study leads to visual and spatial concepts and interpretations. Various Judaica designs along with a pendant series based on Jewish sources and photo-Hebrew are the result of study. Travel and study continue to inspire more projects. Susan honors her design teacher, Professor Leslie Laskey, with her work.
Susan Shender is based in St. Louis, Missouri USA