Donate Life Tzedakah box contemporary judaica

This tzedakah box, titled “Donate Life,” is dedicated to the idea that each of us has the power to save a life by donating blood, registering as a donor on our driver license, or participating in medical research. These common actions exemplify the highest form of tzedakah (as defined by Maimonides) in which the donor and the receiver do not need to know one another, yet the gift enables the beneficiary to recovery and become a contributing member of society. Donating blood, becoming an organ donor, or participating in medical research can literally change a person’s life.

Tzedakah Side 1 - Institute for Medical Research

Tzedakah Side 2 - graffiti on I.Magnin & Co building

Tzedakah Top view - Donate Life

Tzedakah Side 3 Donate Life / Side 4 Organ Donation

The tin used for this tzedakah box portrays the iconic I. Magnin building in San Francisco, California.

The tin has been repurposed as a tzedakah box. This is similar to how older buildings in San Francisco are renovated for a new purpose. The theme highlights contemporary forms of tzedakah such as participating in medical research, donating blood, and being an organ donor. Contributions that can “Donate Life.”

Donate Life

Dimensions: 11” x 8 .5” x 6”
Date: 2015
Materials: Post-consumer recycled tin cans, brass, sterling silver rivets, Plexiglas, paint, aluminum rivets, brass & stainless screws.
Available for exhibition or purchase.

Register online to become an organ donor at: http://organdonor.gov/index.html On this site you can register with your local state DMV to become an organ donor. All ages and health profiles are needed. Registration is free.

Donate Life - Tzedakah Side 1 Institute of Medical Research

(including images of the fabrication in the studio )

Donate Life Tzedakah box Institute of Medical Research made from repurposed materials

Fabrication of Donate Life - Institute of Medical Research

original drawing for Tzedakah of repurposed tin

in progress photo with paper mock-up of awning

Original drawing for the Institute for Health Research.

This side was going to have a sign lower at the street level, but then I decided to move it higher up on the building.

Paper mock-up of the parts and awning. I decided I didn't like this awning idea next to the awning that said Save a Life.

reference building in downtown San Francisco

I used this building in downtown San Francisco, near the Contemporary Jewish Museum, as a model for my tzedakah box.

This is a photo from my studio as I was working on putting together the building facade and window.

recycled tin cans make up the building architecture and window panes

Close-up view of the faux building architecture. The black window panes were all cut out from black tin cans and placed on top of a metallic tin to give the impression of windows.