Chris + Lisa Van Allsburg

The Branch is designed and modeled by Richard Wessner, a sculptor and Forgotten Judaica's design director. Richard chose the tree motif because the tree is a symbol for life itself. The branch, as it grows out from the tree, represents knowledge gained.

Chris Van Allsburg, RISD illustrator, chose the Lion for strength. Chris wanted the animal faces to hang straight on a door jamb, but Jewish law requires that the scroll be slanted. His solution was to build a slanted vessel on the back of each Mezuzah.