I have pulled this one out of the archives as i have not yet and likely will not be doing any crafts for the "three weeks" this year, as I'm too busy trying to up my painting game.....not a simple thing to do at all. Of course if I were still crafting like I used to when my kids were young, or that I might do in the future if I had a art center for kids (dream or reality? time will tell!) or with hopefully grandchildren I would love to delve into mosaics once again, as they are so very satisfying, and especially wonderful when created by recycling broken tile and dishes! Here is what I wrote back in 2018:
Today is Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, so wishing every one a chodesh tov, a wonderful new month filled with blessings. Unfortunately for the Jewish people we are once again entering a month that is filled with great tragedy, though we have 17 days until the mourning period starts. I really don't know if there is any other People (Judiasm is both a religion and a People) that continues to mourn events that happened thousands of years ago, and that in itself is one of the reasons that we have survived despite all attempts to wipe us out. We mourn and give great importance to past tragedies, while at the same time having great hope for a brighter future for ourselves and the entire world.
The main thing that the Jewish people mourn is the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, twice. The major events leading up to the destruction are minor fast days, and the last 9 days before the total destruction is the strictest mourning period on the Jewish calendar. So, mosaics which depict Jerusalem, and especially the Beit HaMikdash, are perfect projects to think about and start creating now!
I saw this Beit Hamikdash mosaic many years ago in a wedding hall somewhere near Beit Shemesh, I believe, and apologize to the creators for not being able to give them credit. To boot it was very dark and therefore my photos are not great quality, but the quality and creativity of the mosaic is so wonderful I just had to share it with you.