The Bible, the source and root of the Jewish people, has undergone an artistic arrangement and become a rare creation emblazoned with natural diamonds in an extraordinary work of design.
The OrYahalom company enlisted designers and leading artists from Shenkar College for this unique project. The designers were challenged with creating an exquisite cover for the Bible that would express the principal beliefs of Judaism from a design point of view in their own personal style, using diamonds as a central motif.
A copy of the Bible can be found in nearly every Jewish home, whether religious or secular. Its stories and values are a binding thread that touches upon the birth of the Jewish nation. Nearly every Jew, regardless of age or affiliation, draws inspiration from the Bible. Its deep symbolic meaning leads many people to present it as a meaningful gift during life’s most significant moments, such as bar and bat mitzvahs, army enlistment, milestone birthdays, weddings, or as an eternal keepsake to pass down from generation to generation.
OrYahalom was established by CEO Ronen Priewer and his partner, businessman Ari Wolff. The company’s first product is the OrYahalom Diamond Bible. It brings forth a groundbreaking concept that connects the world of diamonds to the world of the Torah. These two realms, which until now were considered complete opposites, are presented here as one being in which the dimension of light forms the link between the Torah, which is the epitome of spirit, and diamonds, which are the epitome of matter.
The design and execution of the Diamond Bible, which required much research and many attempts, was overseen by business consultant Gillian Golan and Orina Ferrante, Director of Development, both Senior Professors in the Jewelry Design Department at Shenkar. They recruited three Shenkar design graduates, Noy Ben Porat, Yaron Shmerkin, and Anouk Yosefshvili, who approached the design project with a detailed concept brief. The task posed a challenge on several levels, including maximizing the light of the diamonds, incorporating the diamonds into the Bible’s cover through an original method, and creating new artistic techniques.
The Bible covers were inspired by the stories and central motifs from the world of the Torah, including the story of Creation, the Merkava (Divine Chariot), the Splitting of the Red Sea, From Darkness to Light, the Twelve Tribes, and Infinity. They were created using natural diamonds and high-quality light radiance. The Koren Edition Bibles were bound by Shevach Black, a renowned pioneer in the world of high-end Judaica whose work has been gifted to world leaders and US presidents.
Ronen Priewer, the founder of OrYahalom, shared: “We could not think of a more groundbreaking way to connect these two extremes of consciousness – the world of spirit and the world of matter. We understood that a special approach was needed, one that was creative and out-of-the-box, in order to arrive at a unique result, both in terms of design and concept. That is what led us to this particular team of artists,” added Priewer.
Gillian Golan, Professor of Commercial Design in the Jewelry Design Department at Shenkar explained, “The challenge was unusual and complex. I fell in love with the idea [of the Diamond Bible] because of its message and challenge. The intense light of the diamond, which is the supreme natural substance, its spiritual connection to the Torah, and creating a product that conveys this message.”
She continues, “The designers used the Bible as a springboard, along with the concept of light. Throughout the process, we had to blend total creative freedom according to the designers’ artistic vision, with the story of the Bible, while preserving the manufacturing process and maintaining the level of handwork required for something so complex.
“We set the diamonds within the work of a silversmith,” explained Orina Ferrante, Director of Development and Professor at Shenkar. “The challenge in this project was significant, primarily because this discipline mainly deals with gold. The material is softer, polishing and finishing require greater attention to detail. Throughout the long process, we overcame a great many obstacles and created a wonderful jewelry design that emphasizes craftsmanship and combines several elements,” added Ferrante.
International Judaica artist Shevach Black shared, “I’ve been developing techniques and artistic leather bindings for holy books for over thirty years. I’m amazed by this product. It required me to reach very unique levels of precision with regard to the structure, binding, and embossing style that combined different levels of depth and presence. I’m delighted that another new artistic creation has been added to the world of Judaica.
OrYahalom’s Genesis Collection includes six different Bibles. They can be purchased in fine Judaica stores throughout Israel, including the Hilton Tel Aviv, the Mamilla Hotel, the Inbal Jerusalem Hotel, the Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan, and the Philosophy store in Tel Aviv’s Kikar HaMedina.
Prices range from $2,800 - $6,000, based on the number of diamonds on the Bible’s cover, the intricacy of the inlay, and the artistic design.
Learn more at oryahalom.com
Photos Silvia Golan
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