Our Father our King, there is no other king but You. Our Father our King, do with us for your name’s sake… Our Father our King, hear our voice… Our Father our King, inscribe us in the book of life. Our Father our King, renew upon us a good year. Penned by Rabbi Akivah nearly two thousand years ago, the first two lines begin a litany of supplications proclaimed for ten days from Rosh HaShanah until Yom Kippur. At the time, these words ended a drought in ancient Israel when no other petitions worked. In congregations and communities all over the world today, various forms of Avinu Malkeinu have become the most poignant of prayers said during the Jewish New Year.

This image visually presents the passion with which we hope our words will reach God, by using bold brush strokes and a hot color palette of oranges, red-oranges, reds and violets. The dripping of the paint alludes to the rains that followed when these words were first spoken. The two words that begin each line, our Father and our King, highlight the concepts of our High Holy Day prayers. God is a forgiving parent as well as a critical and powerful sovereign.

Two shapes are used in this image to represent Abbah (father) and Melech (king). They are juxtaposed as they wind their way upward toward Adonai. The shape in the foreground shows the richness and depth of this group of prayers as well as being reminiscent of a shofar, (ram’s horn) a symbol of the New Year.