"Soul in the Skies" is a new painting created by the artist in reaction to the first Israeli astronaut in space and the tragic aftermath of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and her heroic crew of seven, especially Ilan Ramon, Israel's first man in space.

Reaction to the painting has been strong. In the words of the artist, "For me personally, I began to take interest in the mission as it unfolded, mainly due to the fact that Ilan Ramon, the Israeli and Jew who began to identify himself as a Jew when in space, was himself realizing the importance of his identity and heritage, and of the fact that he was our personal ambassador to the world".

"Ilan announced prior to the mission that he would make it a point of keeping kosher in orbit, as well as making Kiddush over a cup of wine on Friday night while over Jerusalem. Many of us heard the moving tale of the tiny Torah scroll that went through the horrors of the camps during WW2, and was now accompanying Ilan as a treasure of his people. He became not only a symbol of the modern Israeli focused on scientific progress, but also one of all of his people connected to the rich and spiritual past."

"It was in this way that as a Jew, I felt connected to Ilan and his mission and it was in this way that I felt affected when we all heard the terrible news of the loss of the Shuttle and her heroic crew of seven great pioneers. It was in this way that as an artist, I felt compelled to express myself and create a memorial painting, even as an art exhibition of my Judaic art, planned months before loomed close."

Due to public requests a limited edition was created and a portion of proceeds will benefit victims of terror in memory of Ilan Ramon