By COLlive reporter
The Shloshim of Mr. Raphael Nouril, a respected Jewish artist who passed away on 19 Sivan 5780 (June 11, 2020), is being marked on Sunday at Har Hazeitim in Jerusalem.
Born in 1940 in Tabriz, Iran, Nouril’s early promise as an artist was recognized by all. He studied for four years (1954) under Reza Samimi, a renowned royal portraitist in Iran. He traveled to Paris to learn at the École des Beaux-Arts but was turned away for being ‘too advanced’ in classical technique for their school.
After getting married, Raphael moved back to Iran, where he opened his own painting studio and gallery in Tehran. His portrait of the Shah Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi hung proudly in the monarch’s palace. At the secret advice of a Persian Military official from the Shah’s entourage, Raphael and his family immigrated to London, escaping the Revolution.
His career in art grew and flourished while in the UK. He considered himself a secular Jew, having had very little Torah education growing up. In 1983, however, everything changed. The Nourils had grown friendly with their Lubavitch next-door neighbors, the Rutman family.
The Rutmans facilitated a bracha from the Rebbe for Raphael’s daughter who needed a miracle. And indeed, a miracle was delivered, almost immediately. Raphael was inspired enough to come into the Rutman’s home to see a photo of the Rebbe hanging on the wall. The moment he saw the Rebbe’s face, Raphael knew he wanted to paint him. But Raphael’s manner of painting was to capture the essence and ‘emotion’ of a person on canvas. The only way to do this with integrity was for him to understand the Rebbe from within. He understood the inner-workings of secular people—celebrities and politicians he was accustomed to painting. But he realized he did not know the inner-workings of a holy man. He could not put brush to canvas to paint the Rebbe until he felt close to the Rebbe. He immediately began putting on tefillin and keeping Shabbos and Kashrus. The family transformed.
After two months of religious study, he began painting the portrait of the Rebbe. Upon completion of the portrait, Raphael traveled to Crown Heights to unveil the painting to the Rebbe. The Rebbe said, “The hands like this are prohibited…they should be like this.” And he put his right hand over his left to demonstrate. Raphael had painted the hands with the fingers intertwined, something problematic. The Rebbe commented on the face by saying, “Very good” –three times, then adding with a smile, “It is better than the original!”
Raphael’s next portrait was of the Rebbe with the Previous (Frierdiker) Rebbe at the time of his engagement. Upon unveiling it to the Rebbe in 1988, the Rebbe was thrilled, exclaiming, “Spasiba!” [“Thank you” in Russian]. He then switched to English and said, “Thank you very much for showing it to me. The painting should be a good start for you to double up your efforts and spread Judaism through your works of art, together with your wife. Don’t forget about growing…up, up, up.” It was from then that Raphael Nouril devoted his life to painting Jewish works of art while growing steadily in Yiddishkeit. He noticed that his paintings suddenly became vehicles in turning many people on to Judaism. He saw the Rebbe’s bracha fulfilled in his every painting.
Raphael Nouril was a treasure to his family, to his community, and to the Jewish people. Raphael left us a legacy—not just his art, but his character. He was an example to all, of a refined, honest, humble, dignified person of quiet strength.
He never took credit for his immense talent. He used to point his finger up, saying “it’s a gift from Hashem. I only wish to use the talent as a way of inspiring people.”
He embodied pure bitachon in Hashem. He had an unending simchas chaim and gratitude for even the smallest things. Even in periods of severe discomfort and illness, Raphael never once complained. He always did his best to see the positive side of things and forge ahead with simple faith. Even in his last days, he danced with his arms while singing niggunim.
May Raphael ben Sadaf z’l have unending nachat from his children and grandchildren. May he be a meilitz yosher for his family and all of Klal Yisrael and may we be zoche to be reunited with him soon, with the coming of Moshiach, b’mheira b’yameinu, amen.
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