A large and dynamic sea, taking up all the space, pitching us off-balance. A tiny ship, carrying people, going somewhere uncertain, feeling vulnerable. The text at the bottom translates to “take words with you.” (Hosea, chapter 14)

In the partial ring across the top, above the ocean, the text translates to “Return, Israel, to the Lord your G!d,” which is a directive we encounter often in Jewish texts.

Especially when we are at our most vulnerable before G!d, in a powerful sea, we may want to take words with us.

This is my second piece with this text. Here is the first.

This is, to date, the largest papercut I’ve ever made. And it took a very long time to cut!