I was excited about the idea of creating 
a religious oil portrait. It was for a surprise retirement present for Rabbi Birnholz. He has been the spiritual leader of the Congregation Schaarai Zedek for the past 30 years.
We went to the temple as photographers, Gerry and Jessica Chromoy. (My husband’s name and my married name for taxes and legal forms). We were given a tour of the large premises so that I could get some ideas of what I might include in my painting.
The executive director, who is the same height as the rabbi, helped us by standing in for him in different locations in the temple. In the Sanctuary there are 2 entire huge walls of stained glass windows where he posed for us in several places. I was beginning to feel that this glorious display would make an exciting background.
Then we saw another large circle of stained glass that had been mounted into a sturdy metal framework. It had been brought over from their previous synagogue when they grew to the present larger quarters. It was hanging within the building on a glass wall separating the grand foyer from the large banquet room. Though it was not well lit, there was enough indoor light to perceive its beauty. We photographed it as a whole. Then we got someone to shine a spotlight through each individual section and we photographed all the pieces. Those parts were what I ultimately used to make this special religious oil portrait.
Working with the Rabbi
After this we went to the rabbi’s large office to concentrate on getting a good shot of him. He welcomed us with cheer. We let him joke about how he was going to have his photo displayed in one of the photo showcases. It was fun working with him.
In addition to that I got to know him a couple of other times in the temple. I had the opportunity to see him officiate at a bat mitzvah. You could tell he knew his congregants as he made the service very personal. I also had the chance to see him give his full attention to individual attendees after the service. I can understand why his congregation loves him so much. After he retires, he has been given an office in the temple to use to contribute however he wants.
My Inspiration for the Painting
I decided to make my religious oil portrait one that
would inspire viewers every time they pass it in the grand foyer for years to come. They would again feel blessed by the unique being that Rabbi Birnholz is, acting as a conduit for them for God and Judaism. I also knew that an exciting and aesthetic background would reinforce my goal. Don’t all religions release us from the weight of the world? Don’t they uplift us to new planes of peace and love? Throughout history aesthetics has had an important relationship with religion. I just wanted to draw on this tradition with my rendering of sections of the beautiful circular stained glass. I also added, somewhat abstractly, pieces of the large stained glass walls from the Sanctuary.
The Portrait Presentation
When the Board of Trustees gave the presentation to the rabbi, it was in a service in the Sanctuary. It was mentioned that the painter of the oil portrait is related to the famous American painter, Norman Rockwell. There was a wave of quiet “wows” that seemed to flow across the congregation. It is always heartwarming to hear that my cousin is still very much remembered. I think it is healthy for our nation to have him as an appreciated icon of our history.
The President of the Board of Trustees spoke:
“This congregation was founded in 1894 and has been in existence 124 years. It has had only eight senior rabbis since it inception, four since 1924, a fact that we are proud of for no other reason than how unusual it is. Two of these rabbis served for a combined 71 years. Of these rabbis, only one has held the title of Rabbi Emeritus. That was Rabbi David Zielonka, serving from 1930 to 1970. Until now. The second rabbi to hold the title Rabbi Emeritus is our own Rabbi Richard Birnholz.
With that said, Rabbi, there is an oil portrait of Rabbi David Zielonka in the offices of the Senior Rabbi. The Board of Trustees believed the same tribute, an oil portrait, should be given to Rabbi Birnholz, as the second Rabbi Emeritus in our congregation’s life.
We commissioned a photographer named Jessica Chromoy along with her husband and business partner, Gerry, to take some photographs of Rabbi. Both Jessica and Gerry are in the congregation tonight.
What Rabbi Birnholz is not aware of was that the photographer was actually Jessica’s husband, Gerry, and she is a well-known oil portrait artist based in Clearwater. Her name is Jessica Priscilla Rockwell and yes, she is the cousin of the famed American artist, Norman Rockwell. [Audience: “Wowwwww.”]
Rabbi, on behalf of the Board of Trustees and your beloved congregants, it is our desire that this portrait be displayed, along with Rabbi Zielonka’s in our Shimberg Grand Foyer and be a beacon for all that is good. [Audience: clapping and exclamations of excitement. Laughter.]
“No, it doesn’t go in your office, it stays outside.” [Laughter.]
Then Rabbi Birnholz spoke:
“This is the first time in my life that I’m absolutely speechless. I know he took a picture but I couldn’t figure out what they were going to do with it. [His wife said something to him.] Guys, Donna just said, ‘This looks better than the real thing.’ [Laughter.]
“I cannot thank you or the congregation enough. These honors really have left me speechless. You know I do what I do because I love what I do and because I want to serve God and Judaism. And you know I don’t do it for the honors. But the fact that you are honoring Donna and me in this way with these namings and beautiful portrait and placing it out in the Shimberg Grand Foyer is the nicest gift and honor we have ever been given. So thank you so much to all of you for making that possible. And every time I pass this, I will think of all of you.”
Afterwards there was a huge reception where my religious oil portrait of Rabbi Birnholz was displayed temporarily in the grand foyer. They have plans to showcase it there with the oil portrait of the previous rabbi as well.
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