Chani Cohen Zada
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Chani Cohen ZadaAwaken, 2023
Chani Cohen Zada, Awaken
About the Artwork
Awaken depicts two young boys walking through the ancient corridors of the Cave of the Patriarchs (Me'arat HaMachpelah) in Hebron. Surrounded by massive stone arches and illuminated by distant light, they journey with innocence and purpose toward the resting place of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaakov. The painting expresses a timeless hope: that the merit of our forefathers will continue to accompany the Jewish people and that their prayers will hasten the coming of redemption.
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The title Awaken draws upon a recurring theme in Jewish prayer and longing—the desire that the merit of the Patriarchs stand before Hashem on behalf of their descendants. For generations, Jews have journeyed to Me'arat HaMachpelah, seeking connection with the founders of the Jewish nation and drawing inspiration from their faith, courage, and devotion.
Rather than focusing on the grandeur of the site itself, Cohen Zada places two children at the center of the composition. Their small figures emphasize both the scale of the architecture and the continuity of Jewish history. They walk through the same sacred spaces that have inspired pilgrims for centuries, carrying with them the hopes and prayers of future generations.
The long corridor creates a powerful sense of movement and anticipation. Receding arches draw the viewer's eye toward the distant light, suggesting both a physical destination and a spiritual journey. The architectural rhythm becomes a metaphor for the passage of time, linking the lives of the Patriarchs with the present and the future.
According to the artist, the boys walk through these halls hoping and praying that Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaakov will awaken and intercede on behalf of their descendants. The painting is not a literal request for awakening, but a poetic expression of the enduring relationship between the generations of the Jewish people and those who came before them.
Awaken ultimately speaks of faith, continuity, and redemption. It reminds viewers that the journey of the Jewish people is not undertaken alone, but in the shadow of those whose lives established the foundations upon which future generations continue to build.
₪ 33,250


