The theme selected by the congregation was "Where heaven and earth meet." The image is of the heavenly tree that according to tradition has its branches pointing down toward earth and its roots upward, almost touching an earthly tree. Design by Arnold Schwarzbart and woodwork by Ernie Gross. The carved text at the top reads "Shema Yisrael." The eternal light has a wood shelf with beveled glass projecting up and down, a similar idea to the doors.
Ori Soltes points out that the dark earthly tree rises to four sets of three branches, twelve in all, the four letters of the Name of God become the twelve tribes of Israel, and that the pale tree above does not rest on it but meets it, roots downward: as the congregation reaches toward God, God reaches toward the congregation.
The text
שמע ישראל
Hear, O Israel.
Deuteronomy 6:4, carved at the top of the doors
Studio of Arnold Schwarzbart
Arnold Schwarzbart ז״ל · 1942 – 2015 · Knoxville, Tennessee