JEWISH ZODIAC MOSAIC
Step Into Mark Podwal's Colorful Jewish Zodiac Floor
In all of early Jewish art, no single motif has sparked more surprise and scholarly fascination than zodiac mosaics in ancient synagogues.
In 2024, the Museum unveiled a stunning new mosaic floor by award-winning artist Mark Podwal z"l (1945-2024), whose work celebrated the depth and diversity of Jewish tradition. Located in the vestibule outside the historic Main Sanctuary, this colorful design features all 12 zodiac signs, each paired with the Hebrew letter that begins its corresponding month in the Jewish calendar.
The floor reveals unexpected connections between astrology and Jewish festivals. Capricorn appears as a sea goat—a symbol rooted in both Babylonian zodiac and Jewish mythology—holding a Hanukkah menorah to mark the winter festival's final days.
A Living Tradition Across Millennia
This mosaic continues a remarkable artistic tradition spanning nearly two thousand years. Zodiac floors graced synagogues from the Roman Empire through medieval Europe, where zodiac imagery appeared in liturgical books and ritual objects. In the 17th and 18th centuries, ornate zodiac motifs decorated wooden synagogue walls and ceilings across the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The tradition reached the Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century, adorning the Bialystoker Synagogue and Stanton Street Shul—both still standing today.
Crafted by master artisans from Progetto Arte Poli in Verona, Italy, the glass mosaic tile floor represents both ancient wisdom and contemporary artistry, made possible by the Estate of Roger Jacques Herz.
Download a copy of the brochure to learn more about Mark Podwal and his Jewish Zodiac Mosaic here.
