Rachel
2010
5" x 7" x .125"lasercut gessoboard, gold & silver leaf

Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob, one of the three Biblical Hebrew Patriarchs, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob worked for Laban, Rachel’s father, for seven years to earn the pay the dowry (bride price) to marry Rachel. She remained silent when Laban insisted her elder sister Leah marry Jacob first. Jacob then worked another seven years to pay an additional dowry for Rachel.

While Leah bore Jacob seven sons and Rachel’s maid Bilhah bore him two sons, Rachel remained barren—a social disgrace. After the birth of Rachel’s first son Joseph, Jacob decided to return to Canaan and did not tell Laban of his plans.

Rachel took the idols of her father with her when they left. Why did she steal them? Was to prevent her father Laban from worshipping idols? Did the idols have some magical power that would reveal the route that Jacob’s family were to travel? Or did she want to retrieve her dowry?

Jacob unknowingly cursed whoever had taken them--- and Rachel died on the road to Canaan, during the birth of their second son Benjamin.

Sadly, the name continues to bear witness to sadness despite patient conviction and and sanctimonious judgment. Rachel Corrie, (1979 – 2003) was the 23-year-old peace activist killed on March 16, 2003 when she was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer on the Gaza Strip.