Josh from North Carolina reached out to us with the desire for a tattoo that would embody his Jewish pride. When he first contacted us, he wrote, “The events of October 7 and the antisemitism that became visible afterward made me want to truly wear my pride in being Jewish. A Magen David necklace is not enough for me. I want to bring that pride, and my family, together into a tattoo.”

His story carried a strong sense of continuity. He spoke about visiting Israel as a child with his parents and grandmother, and then returning years later with his own children. That experience of seeing the same connection come alive in them, in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and across the country, made something more concrete for him. The joy of being Jewish in Israel became tied to his role as a father and to the responsibility of passing that connection forward.

At the same time, the events of October 7 and the rise in antisemitism that followed gave that connection a new urgency. What had once felt internal became something he wanted to express openly. The tattoo became a way of making that visible, both to himself and to others.

As we worked through the text, Josh was drawn to the phrase זאת אות הברית, “This is the sign of the covenant.” It offered a way to hold multiple layers at once. A covenant between generations within his family, and a covenant that connects him to the Jewish people more broadly. He was also clear that the piece should remain simple and direct, without forcing complexity for its own sake.

Gabriel’s approach was to build from interconnected forms that create a sense of unity and containment, while parts of the letters extend upward, introducing movement and direction. The composition holds the feeling of something rooted and inward, while allowing it to rise and be seen.

For Josh, the final piece reflects both where he comes from and what he chooses to stand for. It carries his family, his history, and his identity, and gives them a visible form that speaks with clarity and intention.