The Radiant Sage – Ben Ish Hai

🖼️ Title: The Radiant Sage – Ben Ish Hai

Description:

This mesmerizing artwork pays homage to Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, widely known as the Ben Ish Hai (1835–1909), one of the most influential Sephardic sages of the modern era. A master of Halacha, mysticism, and moral instruction, his teachings continue to illuminate Jewish life across the world.

The composition presents the Ben Ish Hai as a living conduit of divine wisdom, his face emerging from radiant golden beams that mimic the Shechinah (Divine Presence) emanating from the Temple. At the center, a blazing eye within the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) symbolizes spiritual clarity, vision, and divine awareness — the hallmark of his mystical insights.

Surrounding him are layered symbols:

• A white dove, representing peace and the prophetic spirit.

• The IDF emblem on the left, hinting at the enduring influence of Torah across generations and movements.

• Jerusalem’s skyline and Temple columns, grounding the portrait in sacred space and memory.

The Hebrew inscription reads:
"אֵין שׁוּם אוֹר יָכוֹל לְעוֹלָם שֶׁיָּכַל לְכָבוֹת אוֹר זֶה"
“There is no light in the world that can extinguish this light.”
This phrase reflects the eternal flame of Torah and the enduring power of the Ben Ish Hai’s legacy.

Curator’s Note:

More than a portrait, this work is an invocation — a mystical blend of memory, teaching, and transcendent illumination. The Ben Ish Hai stands here as a timeless figure, bridging heaven and earth, Torah and mysticism, past and future. Every brushstroke and radiant beam invites viewers to contemplate the unquenchable light of divine wisdom.