Rochester Hills artist transforms

Arts&Life woodworking

Wooden Judaica

Rochester Hills artist transforms wood into usable Jewish art.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Daniel Bucksbaum did not rahs, thinking I could sell them,” know much about his said Bucksbaum, whose artislate great-grandfather tic instruction came through until he started transforming area wood artists and YouTube wood into art objects. Then, he videos. “Then I added Shabbat remembered learning about the candlesticks to what I was doing artistry of Louis Sher, a tool and because I thought there could die artisan whose woodworking always be a demand if I played hobby brought about the ark still it right.” displayed at Congregation Shir After buying precision tools Tikvah in Troy. from internet sellers and finding

In a family of known fabric unique woods through local and print artists, Bucksbaum traders, Bucksbaum established ventured into woodcarving last a customer base by displaying fall, when he wanted to make his projects on social media and a commemorative gift for his opening a store on Etsy. grandmother, Barbara Gash, “I’ve been focusing on menowho had recently traveled to rahs of exotic woods and more Israel for the first time. He interesting designs,” Bucksbaum carved a menorah in the shape explained. “I love using my saw of Israel. to make Hebrew letters out of

“We have a few of my wood, and I’m trying wall art. great-grandfather’s pieces, bowls I’ve been making cutting boards and cutting boards, around the lately, and I’m going to be house,” said Bucksbaum, 24, doing them in larger numbers. of Rochester Hills. “After I got Another project I’m getting into into woodworking, I started to is challah serving boards with appreciate his abilities more, Hebrew words.” and my grandma has since Mezuzahs and seder plates taught me a lot about him and will be next on his creative list. loves that I’ve inherited his Bucksbaum’s interest in interest.” Judaism developed in college.

Bucksbaum, a political Although his family celebrated science graduate of Western Jewish holidays and involved Michigan University, had been themselves with Jewish culture, looking for a job that reflected they did not attend synagogue his academic studies when he or become active with religious found temporary work with organizations. He did not have a a handyman who taught him bar mitzvah. carpentry. With that training “I got involved with a Hillel and a home workroom of repair chapter immediately after entertools used by his dad, David ing college and loved having Bucksbaum, he decided to try Jewish friends,” said Bucksbaum, building the menorah. who was elected to various

“I soon got the idea to make Hillel offices and chosen chapter more of those kinds of menopresident in his senior year. “I joined Hillel to have a sense of community.”

Those feelings of community directed his political attention to Middle East studies with Israeli interactions at the center of his curriculum.

“I became more serious about selling my work in February and March,” said Bucksbaum, a Stoney Creek High School graduate. “In March, when I was forced to stop working for the contractor because of the pandemic, I tried to put as much time as possible into what I thought I should do when everyone was forced to stay home.

“That’s when I was able to get my Etsy store up and provide myself a small income, but this is becoming my main source of income. As I expanded my products with more diversity, I got to see what my customers liked and what routinely sold, and I focused on those.”

Bucksbaum roams the web looking at various kinds of woodworking approaches and creatively adapts them using Jewish themes and ritual objects. He saw some beautiful candlesticks with crosses and decided to carve very different candlesticks with Stars of David. He also accommodates custom orders, religious or not.

“I like creating things that other people can enjoy,” he said. “For example, when people buy my candlesticks, use them for Shabbat and say they love them, I have great satisfaction knowing that something I made is part of someone’s home.”

COURTESY OF DANIEL BUCKSBAUM

Daniel Bucksbaum

details

Daniel Bucksbaum’s wooden artistry is available through Etsy at WoodcraftingByDaniel.