Moshe Hammer, Z’L.
True genius is a rare commodity.
Five years ago, 26-year-old Moshe Hammer, z”l, a Lubavitch artist who frequently worked through the night, stepped outside for a walk in Los Angeles, to clear his head and recharge his creative batteries. As was his custom, Moshe rambled miles from his apartment in the Fairfax district.
Tragically, Moshe was struck by a truck and instantly killed.
For two days, Moshe’s parents, Joan “Pessie” and Yosef Hammer, did not hear from their son. They were frantic, searching the neighborhood, calling friends, trying to locate Moshe.
Two days after Moshe’s disappearance, July 15, 2004, there was a knock at the door; a local rabbi, rebbetzin and a police officer delivered the tragic news.
A few days later, Pessie Hammer went to clear out her son’s apartment. In the bottom drawer of his desk she discovered over three hundred black and white ink drawings.
Mrs. Hammer knew that her son was a talented artist. As a child, Moshe drew comic books with hard-charging superheroes and sold them to his classmates. But Pessie and Yosef, a postal worker, had no idea that their son’s body of work was so massive and of such quality.
Ma’ariv, the Evening prayer for Sabbath and Festivals.
Sorting through Moshe’s work, Pessie discovered that Moshe had illustrated a Passover Haggadah, a Book of Esther, The Song of Songs, as well as the entire Siddur.
I met the Hammers when Pessie wrote to me after reading an article about our son Ariel Chaim, a”h, that I wrote for The Jewish Press. We lost Ariel a year earlier and understood exactly what the Hammer family was enduring.
Sitting in their comfortable Fairfax home, my wife Karen and I offered a measure of comfort to this fine family. The Hammers generously allowed us to examine Moshe’s drawings.
Havdalah, Farewell Ceremony to the Sabbath.
I sorted through the single sheets one at a time. Nothing prepared me for the stunning images that overflowed with intricate details. I was dumbfounded by the inner coherence of each work. It was as if I had discovered a genizah of Jewish art in, of all places, Hollywood.
“What do you think?” Yosef asked me.
“Your son was a genius,” I said with no hesitation whatsoever.
Moshe Hammer’s art can best be understood as a cross between medieval illuminated manuscripts and the modernity of a sophisticated comic book. Hebrew letters dance like Chassidic Jews. The calligraphy and drawings reveal Moshe’s intensive study of the traditional commentaries of the sacred texts.
To read my entire article, please head on over to The Jewish Press.
Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
6 Comments
Robert – I cannot imagine the pain that the Hammer’s feel, nor do I know the extent of your relationship with them. However, this art must be publicized. The Shema in particular is powerful. The Tefillas HaDerech is just wonderful as well. As someone who loves Haggados, I wish I could see what Moshe zt’l had created. Please let the Hammer’s know that their son’s memory could live on forever in the homes of fellow Jews, providing inspiration.
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Pearl, Rachel, Bill, Batya:
Thanks so much for your kind words. I have no idea why bad things happen to good people.
I don’t think the Hammer’s have any plans to publish Moshe’s work. Which is a shame.
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Wow! I hope they’re having his work published.
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I wonder why so many of those with potential – and ability to enrich mankind – are taken while so many bad people – the cockroaches of mankind – seem to live forever – sure that isn’t the first time the question has been raised
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what an absolutely amazing artist he was. His artwork has detail/craftsmanship that looks to be hundreds of years old. Just timeless. I could stare at it endlessly and still not capture all of its wonders. I am so sorry for the loss of their son.
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I recall you blogging before about Moshe, z”l.
The one word describing his gift and talent for detailed interpretation through art is–simply– MAGNIFICENT.
I’m so glad you were able to share his talents with Jewish Press readers, Robert.
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