"Covenant of Blood," 2014, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 80 cm.

He took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. They said, "All that God has spoken, we will do and we will hear." Moses then took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. He said, "This is the blood of the covenant which God is making with you regarding all these things." (Exodus 24:7-8)

This work began as a purely abstract painting. It remained a mystery until one day, years later, Raanan read these verses and understood what the painting was. He then began working on it again, this time with intention.

The splashing of blood upon the people from the top of the mountain is palpable. The lusciousness of the red paint reflects an opinion that the blood stains on the garments of the Israelites were as precious to them as jewelry ? for the blood represented to them how special they were to God. In the words of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, "This covenant ... was effected through blood: this unity with God became 'part of our blood,' the essential, defining element of Jewish identity."