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Sefira Lightstone, Art Director
The Layers Collection
WHO I AM:
My name is Sefira Lightstone and I am an illustrator, visual-artist, and activist living in Israel. I am an editorial illustrator and entrepreneur creating and selling soulful artistic products that empower Jews and women to embrace their identity. From a young age, I was exposed to all different forms of creativity from pottery, fine art, acting, dancing, and music.
It was 7 years ago that I began to direct my passion and creativity into illustration. I spent years learning how to master techniques of color, composition, and arrangement. I have since developed my own personal style and am able to offer a unique perspective to every project I work on. Check out my work at www.sefiracreative.com.
WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT:
I am passionate about Zionism and Israel, Jewish identity, and empowering women. My goal is to create artwork that speaks to my values and reflects important issues and the beauty that I see in our community. I dream about supporting female artists through a much-needed renaissance of Jewish art in our generation. With the invent of social media, platforms have been opened up for us to showcase our work, our talents, and our passions. There is still so much work to be done to level the playing field and fight for the value of our work.
The community of Jewish artists is diverse and each voice is important because through art you can experience the world through someone else’s eyes. By empowering Jewish Female artists, we can uplift people in our community through representation in beautiful ways.
WHAT I DO HERE:
As the Art Director of The Layers Collection, I am the point person for Featured Artists and the lead director of the artistic process. I review and approve designs and support the artist’s vision while maintaining the values of The Layers Collection. I create and manage the products before and after they go to market, and I am here to facilitate relationships with our artists and our creative team.
You can find more of Sefira's work on www.sefiracreative.com or follow her on her Instagram page @sefiracreative.
WHO WE ARE
Shira Lankin Sheps, MSW
Founder, Publisher & Storyteller-in-Chief
@ The Layers Project
WHO I AM:
My name is Shira and I am a writer, editor, published author, workshop facilitator, clinical social worker, and photographer. I took all the things that I love and created The Layers Project, six years ago. I made aliyah with my family almost 5 years ago and we live in Jerusalem.
WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT:
I'm passionate about breaking stigma around taboo topics in the Jewish community and creating spaces for Jewish women to thrive and shine. I seek to highlight the beauty of Israel to the world through stories of real life here. I'm dedicated to helping women shape and share narratives of transformation, meaning-making, resilience, and love.
WHAT I DO HERE:
Everything!
My job is to help bring out these ideas and products into the world. Whether it is through managing the website and our creative team, partnering with artists, brainstorming designs, or running social media- I'm your gal.
You can follow more of Shira's work and writings on The Layers Project Magazine and follow her at @thelayersproject on Instagram & Facebook and @shira.l.sheps on Facebook.
Rachel Hercman, LCSW
Clinical Director, The Layers Project
WHO I AM:
I'm Rachel Hercman, social worker, writer, speaker, recent migrant to New Jersey. I love to laugh and I love to learn, and I see life through the lenses of growth, spirituality, and meaning.
WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT:
I believe in the potential for change, and finding a balance between dreaming of What If and embracing What Is. I love the way conversation, creativity, and community can form a triangle of energy that flows out and within.
WHAT I DO HERE:
As I have for the last five years on The Layers Project, my job is to maintain the signature tone and sensitivity of the ideas that we put out into the world.
You can learn more from Rachel by following her on Instagram at @rachelhercman.
Rivka Mazal Tauber
Project Manager, The Layers Collection
WHO I AM:
I’m Rivka Mazal, Olah to Jerusalem from NYC, Writer, Student, and Teacher. I’m a lover of beautiful things who above all else wants to sit down with other humans and discuss big ideas while drinking coffee. (or tea!)
WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT:
I’m excited about harnessing our creative power to bring the change we seek in the world. I love finding the places where the work we do in the world connects with Torah, each other, and our history.
WHAT I DO HERE:
At the Layers Project Magazine, I work to take ambitious goals and bring them to action. As part of The Layers Collection, I’ll be here every step of the way to help get amazing artwork onto products that make it into new hearts and homes.
Read more of Rivka's writings by following her on Instagram at @rivkamakesaliyah
