V'Ahavta (And You Shall Love)
V’Ahavta is the name of a common prayer that is sung in synagogues all over the world as part of the Shema – the central prayer in Judaism that declares faith in one invisible, eternal, universal Creator. The words and lilting melody of the V’ahavta hold a special place in my heart.The Hebrew words v’ahavta (ואָהַבְתָּ) literally translate to mean and you shall love, stating the imperative to love our Creator, and life itself, with all our heart and soul; to teach this love to our children; and to remember it at every juncture in our daily lives. Even more intriguing, by a twist of Hebrew grammar known as the “reversing vav,” the phrase indicates both past and imperative future – in other words, it means both “you have loved” and “you shall continue to love.”
The painting is a sequel to two previous paintings I did that show figures who similarly hold something sacred in their heart. The first one, from the early 90s, shows a male figure holding the sun, and was titled Incarnation of the Sun:
The second one, Incarnation of the Moon, shows a female figure cradling the moon:
The idea behind these two paintings is that we can embody, or incarnate, the qualities of the sun and moon, or masculine and feminine energies, within ourselves. Both paintings sold long ago.
Years later, I was commissioned to illustrate a unique oracle deck, The Power of the Yin, in which I was challenged to depict an embodiment of love for one of the cards – without showing a couple. The author, Daven Lee, wanted me to illustrate love within a single individual, as an intrinsic quality. This was most difficult, and though I completed the image, I wasn’t entirely happy with it.
For months after that, I contemplated the idea of a new painting, in which love would incarnate through a figure similar to my previous two paintings. But how to symbolize love itself? A heart would be much too cliché. I had already tried a suggestion of light. I let the idea rest, knowing something in life would present itself, if only I were patient.
The answer came to me weeks later when I was hanging out with my friends Michael and Becky, and I noticed a tattoo over Michael’s heart, which says in Hebrew, V’Ahavta. And there it was – the missing piece, coming from the beloved prayer that I’m so fond of, and that I often sing while walking my dog. This was the perfect visual representation of love. I decided to let the letters dance and weave, like overlapping colored flames – for love is alive and always changing, like energy itself, never to die, only to change forms. Love is also a mystery or a puzzle, like these letters that are difficult to read, but evident once you see them.
Thank you, Michael, for helping me resolve this painting! It’s become one of my personal favorites.
V’Ahavta is the cover image for The Jewish Eye 5786/2026 Calendar of Art, and for the month of March 2026. The calendar is available in my webstore, on Etsy, and on Amazon. You can view all the images here.
And almost all the paintings in the calendar are for sale, including this one. Please inquire for more information if you’re interested.
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on September 22nd. Please tell your friends about The Jewish Eye! It makes a great gift for the New Year.
A good week to all!
D. Yael Bernhard
https://dyaelbernhard.com
Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!
I love all the iterations!