A Tzedakah Box to Remember

Merle Honey Porter of The Rosen Group in Baltimore writes:

"I purchased a tzedakah box made by Gary Rosenthal as a baby gift for my niece and her new son. She received tons of clothing , toys and plenty of receiving blankets. I knew that I wanted to give her something that was important and that would be meaningful throughout her life and the life of the baby. I knew that this piece would become a "family heirloom". It would commemorate Colby's birth and it would symbolize a life's lesson worth learning that no matter how much money we do or do not have, charity is an important value to keep for a lifetime. She cried when she opened the gift. She knew that when Colby grew up and had children, he could teach that life's lesson to them and remember how much I loved him when he was born and forever. That would get passed on to his grandchildren and so on. The baby clothes would have a short life as he grew and would be stained and given away as would the toys and blankets but my love for him and an important life's lesson would continue on. Gary's tzedakah box would always provide that memory. Thanks Gary!"

Gary Rosenthal Seder Plate Part of Fundraiser Auction

Suzye Doblin of Texas writes in to tell us about a fundraising auction that includes one of Gary's seder plates, the uniquely vertical SP16.

"As co-chair for the fundraising arm of Temple Emanuel in Beaumont, Texas, I borrowed an idea that had been successful at my previous temple in Hattiesburg, MS. We will have a silent as well as a live auction. My husband, Steve, who is president of the temple, and I like to donate Judaica for the fundraiser. Our fundraiser is called the Fabulous Fall Fun Raiser (FFFR). Last year we made about $8000. I love the pieces of art that we have from Gary Rosenthal's collection and so I decided to donate the Vertical Seder Plate. I thought that would be a fun item. It is going to be a part of the live auction. We put minimum bids on all items...usually half of retail and then hope the bidding will soar. Our fundraiser is November 1st and I will let you know how we do."

Though she didn't mention it in the letter, Suzye liked the seder plate so much that not only did she buy one to donate for the auction, but bought one for herself as well! We wish Suzye good luck with her fundraising efforts and can't wait to hear back from her in November. It's always great to hear that our work is appreciated and put to good use.

Recycled Beauty

People often contact us wondering if we produce any recycled/green Judaica. In addition to simply striving to keep packaging and material waste to a minimum, one of the ways we at The Gary Rosenthal Collection take initiative as a socially and environmentally responsible company is the way we run our glass shop. No glass is thrown out. If something breaks, it’s remelted. If something turns out wrong, it’s remelted. Even the unused stems of the wedding glasses are put to good use and melted down to be used in a menorah or dreidel. No scrap is ever wasted and every shard that is melted down again contributes to the unique look that we all love. Not only is recycling the right thing and the smart thing to do, it’s beautiful too.

Hiddur Mitzvah Video

Watch as Gary explains our Hiddur Mitzvah project and gives a tour of the studio.

Facebook

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New for Fall 2008

Hello again! I just wanted to post a quick note letting everyone know that our new pieces are now available on the website. You can view all of our new items, featuring the intricate Tree of Life Collection and our unique woven mezuzot by going to the newest additions section of the online catalog. The hard work of Gary and company has paid off with some truly beautiful designs that you won't want to miss!

A Very Special Mezuzah

A new collection, our unique woven copper and brass mezuzot are enhanced by the story of those who created it. Two autistic employees on staff at the Gary Rosenthal Collection contribute on a daily basis to the studio’s fine artwork. One of them, Tim, enjoys the task of weaving copper strips into a mesh that other artists can fabricate into this wonderful mezuzah. He loves the precise operation of weaving, a skill at which he excels, and is very proud of the finished product.

The Gary Rosenthal Collection is pleased to be a company that combines business, art, and social responsibility. The purchase of this piece helps us to continue in that direction now and in the future.

Welcome!

Welcome to "The FOG Blog." I'm Hamilton Whitney, blogger for The Gary Rosenthal Collection. This is where we at The GRC will keep you, the friends of Gary, up to date with everything new and exciting that goes on here. From news about the Hiddur Mitzvah Project to glimpses of new products, this will be the place to be! Look for updates soon as we get the creative juices flowing. For now I will leave you with a peek at a menorah from our beautiful new Tree of Life collection: