Tree of Life Stained Glass Artwork

This stained glass window is located in the Balin chapel of Congregation Ohev Shalom. It was designed and created by Bryan Willette, an artist and glass painter with Beyer Studio in Philadelphia. It was installed in January, 2019 and dedicated to the memory of Andrew Spector. This translucent Tree of Life enhances our prayer space with color, beauty, and light. The image of an olive or orange tree is a symbol of peace and bounty in the Land of Israel.

Hidden in the tree is a small mockingbird, a reference to the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, and its depiction of the mockingbird as existing solely to sing and provide joy to the world. Hebrew words and their English translations are embedded in the glass. Each word describes an aspect of Andrew Spector’s life, and is meant to evoke meaning for the onlooker as well.