"Creating 'Judaica' is a very special pleasure for me. They are objects used in Jewish religious practice in home and synagogue, designed for rituals which evolved over thousands of years. In recent centuries, especially in Europe, where Judaism was a persecuted 'rival' of Christianity and Jews were debarred from the craft guilds, Judaica was often of low quality, 'poor men's art' made with little love or understanding of their purpose by alien hands. Yet, even there, one senses the urge for survival and the deep roots into the biblical past from which it took its strength. To reinterpret these objects now, bring out their visual potential and research their origins, gives me a sense of direct contact with craftsmen who through generations did their part in creating the symbols of Jewish survival. I hope that I do them justice now." F.M.