Portfolio
Additional Pieces
Crowning Glory Book Case

Dimensions: 410 cm wide x 300 cm high
Materials: Mahogany

Sometimes the client calls for a decidedly over the top design. In this case the splendour was employed to honor the holy books of the synagogue. The hand-sculpted book case is more that just a place to house a few books. It is the first piece one encounters upon entering the synagogue and sets the tone for the entire sanctuary.

Cfar Chabbad Mega Bookcase

Dimensions: 16 meters x 305 cm high
Materials: Solid beech, beech veneer, stain

Sometimes a bookcase is more like an architectural creation than a piece of furniture. This combined bookcase and entrance way to the Central Synagogue of Cfar Chabbad is a case in point.
The massive creation wraps around two corners of the sanctuary with an overall length of about 16 meters.
Kimchi created the piece and was assisted in the work by Yaron Altman and in the installation of the double doors by Michael Cohen as well as Amir of Amir Doors .

Waldorf Astoria Bookcase

Dimensions: 330 cm x 50 cm x 260 cm high
Materials: Mahogany

Kimchi designed and created this one of a kind bookcase for the Jerusalem Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
The piece was commissioned to house the hotel’s impressive collection of books of Jewish learning.
It is positioned directly in front of the entrance to the hotel’s synagogue and adds a unique aura of hand-crafted elegance to this wing of the Waldorf.

Sunburst Chazzan’s Stand

Dimensions: 70 cm x 60 cm x 115 cm high
Materials: Cherry and wenge

A good podium offers the leader of the prayer service an opportunity to really feel rooted and connected.
This piece has a drawer with sculpted front and a laminated, curved back.

The Isaac Sanctuary Book Case

Dimensions: 220 cm x 30 cm x 300 cm high
Materials: Mahogany

Synagogues always need more space to store books. The challenge is to find a convenient way to way to house the books without detracting from the beauty of the Torah ark (Aron Kodesh), which is usually the main focal point.
Here kimchi designed a column on either side of the Aron Kodesh and wrapped the carving around to augment the sense of three dimensionality.
The book cases are positioned behind the protruding columns, and have sculptural detailing of their own which ties in with the overall design.

Black Velvet Podium

Dimensions: 65 cm wide x 55 cm deep x 125 cm high
Materials: Ebonized maple

In this piece Kimchi  sought to create an abstracted form that bespoke sleekness and refinement. Every angle offers a different view of the drama.

Flame Mechitzah

Dimensions: 128 cm x 52 x cm high
Materials: Cherry

Hand-sculpted Mechitzah with semi see-through cut-out patern on top and wheels on the base.

Keeping the Covenant Elijah’s Chair

Dimensions: 65 cm  wide x 70 cm x 180 cm high
Materials: Wenge, Bolivian rosewood, lacewood, leather upholstery and pure gold leaf

An Elijah’s chair must serve as a functional piece of furniture, with very specific requirements. In addition it should reflect the spiritual significance of the ceremony for which it’s designed. This piece in endowed with multi-leveled symbols, alluding to various covenants mentioned in the bible  between God and the People of Israel.

Angels’ Wings Prayer Stand

Dimensions: 60 cm x 65 cm x 125 cm high
Materials: Mahogany

This synagogue podium was commissioned form Kimchi as part of an entire set of synagogue furniture for the Mishan Home for assisted living in Givatai’im, Israel.

Twelve Tribes of Israel Monumental Wall Scuplture

Dimensions: Each panel 52 cm wide x 235 cm high
Materials: Cherry

These hand-sculpted panels of The Twelve Tribes of Israel adorn the Kerem BiYavneh Yeshiva. Six wall sculptures face the six columns on either side of the main hall. Each carving is accompanied by decorative paneling and moldings which serve to frame and accentuate the sculptural works.

The creation of artistic pieces for the synagogue offers Kimchi an opportunity to make the sanctuary space more inspiring, which in turn, can encourage a more spiritually uplifting religious experience.

The subject of the twelve tribes has especially strong resonance in this regard and offers Kimchi a well spring of inspiration.

Each tribe is sculpted in its own particular artistic language. The figurative symbols represented at the top of the panels are hinted at in the abstract carving below.

Swan Necked Prayer Stand

Dimensions: 60 cm x 50 cm x 120 cm high
Materials: Mahogany

This prayer stand, or “shtender”, is definitely appropriate for someone who really wants to invest in his synagogue accessories. The base was carved out of a solid block of layered mahogany. The top section comprises a storage compartment with a raising top. This piece can either stand on its own or be part of a whole set of synagogue furniture.

“Parting the Red Sea” Prayer Stand

Dimensions: 85 cm wide x 80 cm deep x 125 cm high
Materials: Teak

Kimchi always pays special attention to the tactile aspect of his work. When creating a piece of synagogue furniture such as this prayer stand, or Shtender, he will go to lengths to assure that the contact between the piece and its user will be friendly and inviting to the touch.

Sephardi Torah Case-in Memory of Fallen Soldier

Dimensions: 35 cm diameter x 95 cm high
Materials: Cherry, custom made embroidery

Sergeant Nissim Ovadia Alon from the Golani Brigade fell during active duty in 1992. On the occasion of the twentieth year of his passing his family chose to dedicate a torah scroll in his memory. In addition to this very meritorious contribution they also wished to house the torah in a unique, hand-crafted wooden case – one that would evoke a personal connection to the holy book and the soldier in whose memory it was inscribed.

In this venture Kimchi collaborated with embroidery artist Sarah Shevach. The concept incorporated is that of the tree of life. Through careful planning and close cooperation with Shevach Kimchi succeeded in creating the impression that the wooden branches metamorphose into the embroidery. An additional aspect of the tree motif is that it recalls the family name of the fallen. (Alon means oak tree in Hebrew.) Finally, at some level it also is reminiscent of the Golani Brigade’s traditional emblem.

The torah scroll and case were dedicated in the Tekoa synagogue.  Those present at the occasion were deeply moved by the unique beauty of the work as well as by the  particular significance of the event.



Angels’ Wings Synagogue Entranceway

Dimensions: 220 cm x 290 cm high
Materials: Mahogany

The doorway into any space is an integral part of that space’s design. When designing synagogue furnishings Kimchi will often consider including the doors into the overall concept.
These doors were designed by Kimchi for the Mishan Home for assisted living in Givatai’im, Israel. The doors themselves were produced by Haksurian Doors of Jerusalem. Kimchi then hand-carved the panels in a flowing motif that ties in with the other furnishings.

Angels’ Wings Partitions

Dimensions: 90 cm x 190 cm high
Materials: Solid mahogany, mahogany veneer

These room dividers were commissioned for the synagogue in the Mishan Home for assisted living in Givatai’im, Israel.
They are equipped with wheels and can be easily rolled aside when not in use.

Angels’ Wings Bookcase

Dimensions: 390 cm x 240 cm high
Materials: Mahogany, Mahogany veneer

A few special touches, such as the hand-carved top aprons and the unique wood handles, set this fairly straight-forward bookcase apart from the others.
The piece was commissioned as part of a massive commission Kimchi created for the Mishan Home for assisted living in Givatai’im, Israel.

Twelve Tribes of Israel Wall sculpture

Dimensions: Each sculpture 60 cm X 60 cm
Materials: Cherry and maple

After creating the “Raise Thy Eyes to Jerusalem” ark ( aron kodesh ), I was commissioned to create a series of wall-mounted wood sculptures to adorn the walls on either side of the ark. As background preparation for the drawings I met at length with the community’s rabbi to gain a more in-depth understanding of the biblical essence of each of the Tribes of Israel. Each wood wall sculpture is unique, yet they all share the same materials and overall framework, thus creating a unit whose impact is greater than the sum of its parts.



Mount Sinai Lectern

Dimensions: 75 cm x 55 cm x 170 cm high
Materials: Cherry and maple

This podium, which serves as a reading desk in the synagogue, was designed for the “Mount Sinai” ark. It is adorned with electrical lighting coming up through the menorah.