Hillside Pottery Maker Expands Jewish Collection Following Israel Trip

Mimi Stadler has shifted her artistic focus toward creating light-themed ceramics after a family trip to Israel last year. The Hillside resident, who has worked with clay for more than four decades, said the visit confronted her with the realities of the ongoing war. Rockets fell during their stay, an experience that left a lasting impression on the artist and her family.

Stadler said she returned home feeling down and wanted to contribute something positive to the world. She began thinking about light and the objects that provide it. Since that trip, she has placed particular emphasis on her menorahs and Shabbat candlesticks. Her recent designs draw inspiration from flowers, leaves, and other natural elements. Specific pieces in this new series include the Starry Night, Red Anemones, and Rose of Sharon menorahs.

“There’s been so much darkness in the world and I wanted to find some way to respond to that,” Stadler said. “I can’t change what’s happening, but I can create something that brings light into someone’s home. That’s what I love about making menorahs and candlesticks.”

Stadler operates her dedicated workshop from a converted basement in Hillside. The space includes an adjoining gallery where visitors can view her work in person. She believes that holding a piece allows customers to appreciate the weight, glaze, and unique details that photographs often miss. “You can pick up a piece, feel its weight, look at the glaze and notice all the little details that make it unique,” she said.

Her collection ranges from practical household items to decorative pieces and Judaica. Inventory includes mugs, bowls, plates, serving platters, vases, and lidded jars. She also produces tzedakah boxes and honey dishes. Each item is individually shaped, carved, and glazed by hand. Stadler views her work as a way to make ordinary objects interesting to look at and touch.

Customers can also purchase her ceramics through her website, which functions as both a store and a blog. The blog section shares her background and artistic philosophy. “My website is a place where people can get to know a little more about me and the things that inspire what I do,” Stadler said. She noted that writing allows her to share the person behind the finished product.

Stadler also offers classes for those interested in learning pottery. She cites her initial inspiration from seeing handmade pottery at a street fair in her twenties. “I don’t think I’ll ever run out of things I want to make,” she said. “There’s always another idea, another shape or another design I want to try.”