- Based
- Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania
- Craft
- Hebrew-letter serigraphs and prints
Mordechai Rosenstein z"l was born in 1934 in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood and studied at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art, learning figure drawing, color theory, weaving, painting and silkscreen printing. After years in the framing business, his career turned in 1979, when he met salesman Saul Zalesne. Together they founded EMES Editions, named for their first initials and the Hebrew word for truth, and sold his early silkscreen prints from a hand-me-down white van.
His style stretched Hebrew letters into flowing shapes and saturated color, a mix of 1960s pop art and the illuminated Hebrew manuscripts of the Middle Ages. He created more than 700 original works. His "Justice, justice, you shall pursue" piece was displayed in the office of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and B'nai B'rith International commissioned his work as a gift for Pope Benedict XVI.
Rosenstein kept painting into his 90s and died on July 9, 2024, at age 90. His estate continues to issue his prints of blessing, peace and justice for Jewish homes and synagogues.
Good to know
- Notable collection"Justice, justice" print displayed in Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's office
- CommissionB'nai B'rith International gift for Pope Benedict XVI
- Body of workMore than 700 original works
