Fourth Anniversary: SilkNovember 2017 Silk, fine silver, copper, sterling silver Every year, I make my wife an anniversary present that incorporates the material associated with the particlar milestone. The fourth anniversary is traditionally silk or linen, and since silk is a bit more luxe I chose to use it here. I will grant that there is less of the focal material in this piece than in past anniversary giftsbut when the muse hits, the muse hits. To wit: as I was mulling

Although this may seem strange to Ashkenazi Jews

Because there are twelve lunar cycles to one solar

This was originally designed for a charity auction that my synagogue held

resin beads

the character for gold could mean any precious metal and was also frequently used to mean money

After forming this palm-sized pinch pot

The tree-like design is also appropriate to the occasion because our synagogue's name

but its rings were first discovered by Galileo Galilee 1610

an excellent metaphor for a heathy and non-static relationship

Even detached from the Zionist movement

the Turkic blue-and-white glass amulets that both represent and ward off the Evil Eye

" the line is suggestive of lovers going along peacefully together with no signs of disturbance despite their great differences