Moshe Porat

Orthopedics to Sculpturing Judaica

Dr. Moshe and Chaya Porat left Israel for Germany 35 years ago for Dr. Porat's training as a orthopedic surgeon. They ended up staying for 25 years, but 10 years ago, when Dr. Porat retired, they returned to Israel, making their home in Tzfat.

"Completely irrational decision" Dr. Porat says. "No sense to it at all". But while in Germany, Dr. Porat had taken up metalwork, learning to work with gold and silver and other fine metals. "Even as a blacksmith" Dr. Porat says, "it was the metalwork that attracted me", and upon their arrival in Tzfat, Dr. Porat began to think about opening a gallery to exhibit his sculptures.

The Porat Gallery

Today, the Porat Gallery is located on Alkabetz Street in the heart of the Old City. Dr. Porat's workshop is in the lower room, and the gallery exhibits his art. His sculptures are mainly Judaica, but with a twist - the work combines different metals, usually titanium ("which most sculptors won't work with" Dr. Porat explains "because it is expensive and difficult to work with") and silver. Many of the pieces are worked in such a manner as to be one continuous piece which has been sculpted into a piece of Judaica - a menorah (candelabra) or a wine cup, for instance.

In addition, many of the pieces are "multi-purpose" - they are crafted in such a way as to serve several functions. One "puzzle", as Dr. Porat calls it, looks like a holder for an etrog, a citron which is used for the holiday of Succot. But on closer examination, one can discern that there are also holders there for the full four species that are used for the holiday - a palm, myrtle and willow branches.

A second piece also has several uses within one piece. What looks, at a glance, like a wine cup is actually a set for "havdallah", the ceremony marking the end of the Sabbath which is observed on Saturday at nightfall. The piece includes the wine cup, a holder for the candle which is held during the prayer, a second cup which is traditionally used for putting out the candle's fire, and a holder for spices which accompany the prayer.

Several of the sculptures are in the shape of a spiral - few would suspect that the design holds the four Succot species, a wine cup, items for the havdallah ceremony, AND a Chanukah menorah. Most people would be happy with the beautiful spiral!

Dr. Porat continues to be inspired by his adopted city, Tzfat.  His pieces are amongst the most creative in the Artist's community, and visitors search out his gallery to enjoy seeing the amazingly creative pieces.  Dr. Porat can be reached at (052)5405-223. His gallery is located on Alkabetz Street in the Old City of Tzfat.