We don’t always fight with fists.
Sometimes, we fight with joy.
In a world that often feels dark, loud, and heavy — choosing joy is an act of resistance.
And painting it? That’s how I carry it forward.
My name is Albert Levi, and this is the story of my Tree of Happiness.
Why I Created the Tree of Happiness
It started after I came back from reserve duty. I was physically home, but emotionally... somewhere else. And I knew I couldn’t paint war. So instead, I painted what I wanted to believe in: life. color. joy. hope.
This tree didn’t look like my others. It danced. It had pinks and oranges, bursts of yellow, soft light pouring from the branches.
It wasn’t peaceful.
It was alive.
And something about that made me feel more human.
🧠 Related: Modern Jewish Art – What It Means to Be a Jewish Artist Today
Joy in Jewish Tradition
Judaism doesn’t romanticize suffering.
But it teaches us something deeper:
That joy is sacred.
That simcha is strength.
That dancing in a circle can be more powerful than standing with a weapon.
We see it in:
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Simchat Torah
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The way we break a glass and then say mazal tov
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The way we cry and laugh at the same time at Jewish weddings
Painting joy is my way of reminding people:
We weren’t made to only survive.
We were made to shine.
A Story I’ll Never Forget
A mother in Florida bought a Tree of Happiness for her daughter who was going through chemotherapy. She told me, “We needed something in the house that didn’t feel like fear.”
A month later, she sent me a photo of her daughter sitting beneath the painting.
She was bald. Smiling. And under the tree.
That picture hangs in my studio today.
This is not about art.
This is about what art does.
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What Makes This Tree Different
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It’s more colorful than any other piece I’ve painted
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Every leaf is brushed with movement — like it’s mid-dance
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The trunk is stronger, more flexible
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And there’s always a small splash of surprise somewhere — a pink you didn’t expect, a gold flick that catches light
Because that’s what joy is: Unexpected.
Unapologetic.
Unstoppable.
Bring One Home
Want to bring joy into your home in the most meaningful way?
This tree was made to remind you — and everyone who walks through your door — that joy isn’t a decoration. It’s your birthright.
🛒 Explore the Tree of Happiness Collection
Follow My Journey:
📘 Facebook – stories from collectors, art in Jewish homes
🎨 Instagram – watch this tree come alive, see behind-the-scenes, and share the joy
Because joy is our response to everything they couldn’t take from us.
And every brushstroke is a way of saying: we’re still here.
