Rachel Braun explores ways that Jewish texts can be embroidered – literally and figuratively – in original needlecraft designs. During a sabbatical year from her career as a high school mathematics and statistics teacher, she collected her work and thoughts in her book, Embroidery and Sacred Text. Her many talents – artistic, spiritual, and mathematical – come together in this work.
Rachel’s embroidery canvases have hung in many venues, including libraries, museums, and places of worship. Her embroidery Bamidbar: In the Wilderness was selected for display in the juried exhibit accompanying the American Mathematical Society’s special session on mathematics and fiber arts. She has given both in-person and Zoom presentations about her book in a variety of settings.
Rachel lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Steven. Together, they raised four children who have become passionate and adventurous young adults. In addition to her mathematical undertakings, Rachel is a synagogue service leader, Torah chanter, and Jewish educator. Fun fact: she holds a Guinness Book of World Records certificate for the largest graph paper collection in the world, with more than 750 distinct sheets.
Visit www.rachelbraun.net to learn more about her embroidery designs and to read her blogposts about Torah, graphs, and graph paper.
