Description
The Chassidic Rebbe Aryeh Leib, known as the “Shpoler Zeide,” (the “Grandfather of Shpola”) was a descendant of the medieval Rabbi Aryeh Leib, the famous Maharal of Prague, a scholar who authored several works, but is maybe best known for creating a golem.
The Zeide lived and worked in the Ukraine (1724-1811). He became famous due to the many (folk-)stories which are told about him, like the Purim Angel, or the Bear dance. Rabbi Aryeh Leib was very beloved, because he always stood up for the poor and downtrodden Jews in the Ukraine, and even conducted a court case with HaShem on their behalf.
I made many drawings about the Shpoler Zeide. This one is The Purim Angel:
The Shpoler Zeide once assisted a Jew who was falsely accused in a non-Jewish court. He promised to send an attorney to the city where the trial would take place, on Purim. Meanwhile the Zeide conducted a mock trial at the same time on Purim, with Purim-spielers, imitating the real case. After the mock trial the Zeide was notified that the trial of the Jew had been decided in his favor, thanks to the “attorney” of the Zeide.
18 X 24 inches, pastel, water color and ink on paper, 2015
will be shipped rolled up in a tube from Berlin or from NY if the artist visits the USA
