My name is Shimon Yurkovsky, I am a designer and founder of the brand Yurkovsky Judaica
It all started with a family. Not with the one where I was born, but with the one that I created.
Even before the wedding, Rina and I decided that we wanted to restore Jewish traditions for ourselves, and live according to the precepts of the Almighty. At the celebration, the wedding Nigun was sung, and after Khupa, to the sound of a broken glass, the guests shouted: “Mazal tov!”
In the very first days of our life together, I realized that neither me nor my wife had any traditional family heirlooms.
Probably, had this thought crossed my mind earlier, I would have just gone and bought everything I need in the nearest synagogue. But then, guided by boundless happiness and a desire to give my wife and home something special, something unique and of course the best, I decided to embark on making something which was MINE, do you understand?
“Are you a designer, Shimon, or not?” – I thought and sat down to draft a board for the first Shabbat in the family, which I am now the head.
It took about 2 months to develop. This time-frame is native for a graphic designer. With trepidation and attention, I thought over every little thing, right down to the notch for the knife. But then I had to expand my boundaries of professional skills.
The first question was about the material. I wanted a connection with nature as the source of life. Wood? “Wow, but the pattern is never replicated. Each cut is special. Fine!” – the choice was made.
The second concerned the performer. Garage quality, would not suit me, but to ask for a manufacturer quality with such volumes – you understand. But the master was found, and soon I received the first board, made-up according to my sketch.
It seems that at this moment someone whispered in my head: “Wow, How about mezuzah and seder plate? What if you add epoxy to the wood? It could be an interesting tandem! ” I felt rather than realized that the process could not be stopped.
The first festive meal in our house went by all the rules. And the dream of giving the family the best and the most unique was transformed into a desire to share this with all our people.