By: Arielle Zorger, Artist + Founder of Arielle Zorger Designs

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a Jewish artist, mom, and maker, it’s this: joy is a spiritual practice. And Jewish joy — especially in our homes — is an art form.

We talk so often about tradition, rituals, and community. But what about beauty? What about color? What about those small, sacred details that make someone pause, smile, and feel like they belong?

As someone who didn’t grow up surrounded by stylish Jewish décor, I started painting and designing pieces that I wanted to see — not just for my own table, but for my children, my community, and now, Jewish homes across the world. My goal has always been simple: to create modern Judaica that sparks joy.

Shabbat: A Weekly Canvas for Joy

Every Friday, we’re given a blank canvas. A chance to unplug, to reset, to gather, and to elevate the everyday.

Shabbat doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to be yours. For me, that starts with small rituals that feel intentional and beautiful: laying out a hand-painted challah cover, lighting candles in a colorful glass tray, or setting the table with bright linen napkins that say “this night matters.”

Shabbat is a sensory experience. The smell of freshly baked challah. The flicker of candlelight. The softness of a napkin folded with love. Every item we bring to the table can serve as a tiny portal to joy — if we let it.

High Holidays: A Season of Reflection and Radiance

As we enter the High Holidays — from Rosh Hashana through Simchat Torah — Jewish joy takes on a different tone: one of renewal, sweetness, and reconnection.

It’s a time to return to ourselves, but also to one another. And for me, part of that reconnection is visual — what we see on our tables, in our homes, and in our shared spaces influences how we feel. A modern honey dish can hold both apples and intention. A printed tea towel can hold memory. A beautifully set table can hold your whole family.

That’s why I created my Apple + Honey Dish Collection — not just as a nod to tradition, but as a celebration of creativity. Because Jewish joy isn’t limited to how “religious” you are. It’s about honoring where you are now, and showing up with color, care, and presence.

Jewish Joy Is for Everyone

One of my guiding principles as a designer is that there is no one way to be Jewish. My pieces are made for people who host Shabbat weekly, those lighting candles for the first time, interfaith couples, single moms, queer families, long-time tradition keepers, and folks figuring it all out in real-time.

If it brings you joy, you’re doing it right.

Whether it’s a Shabbat tray, a Rosh Hashana runner, or a hand-lettered quote by your bedside — my art is here to remind you: you belong here.

Let Joy Be the Mitzvah

I like to think of Jewish joy as a mitzvah in itself — one you can practice by making space for beauty, color, and creativity in your home.

This year, as you welcome guests for the holidays (or just welcome yourself back to your table), I invite you to look around and ask:

• What brings me joy here?
  
• What feels meaningful and beautiful?
  
• How can I honor my Jewish identity in a way that feels true to me?

There’s no wrong answer. There’s just your answer.

So light the candles. Set the table. Add a pop of pink to your sukkah. Frame that quote that makes you tear up every time. And know that you’re part of a growing movement of Jews reclaiming their homes as sacred, joyful spaces.

###

Arielle is a mom of two, a full-time artist and maker based in the Charlotte, NC area. For the past 6 years, she has followed her passion for creating original, hand-painted, happy art in the hopes of bringing color and joy to modern Jewish homes.

Arielle has been featured in The New York Times’ Wirecutter, Rollingstone, Kveller, bon appétit and Tablet. Her works can be found at The Jewish Museum (NYC), North Carolina Museum of Art, The Weitzman Museum, ModernTribe, Sydney Jewish Museum, Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, Traditions, PeaceLoveLightShop and Jewishly.