POWERFUL ISRAEL EDUCATION BEGINS WITH OURSELVES

By Liora Alban

I view the world through an artistic lens. Looking around in my daily life, I seek beautiful elements that others may overlook. I notice unique details in people’s outfits, in art pieces, or in architecture. I pause at splashes of color that enliven seemingly ordinary surroundings. When the iCenter for Israel Education provided me with the opportunity to learn about Israel through a research topic of my choice, I chose to do so through art. As I interacted with the many ways in which Israeli society fosters creative expression on Jewish themes, I ultimately also learned an unanticipated lesson about effective Israel education.

The first exhibition I visited during my research trip was, To Go: New Designs for Jewish Ritual Objects, on display at the Israel Museum. For this exhibit, designers and artists from around the world were challenged to create portable sets of Jewish ritual objects that accompany specific Jewish holidays or lifecycle events. According to the Israel Museum website, the sets in this exhibit, “reflect a desire to enhance the religious experience while also valuing holiness, beauty, and ingenuity.” This exhibition blends the Jewish artistic tradition with the demanding realities of our time. Because of technology and our global economy, people today travel more often than ever before and may feel pressure to fill all moments of their cramped schedules. The sets in this exhibit respond to this reality, allowing for the performance of ritual anywhere that a busy person might find themselves.

I especially appreciated a piece by Israeli artist Vered Kaminski titled, “Wedding Kit.” It includes a chuppah made of thin brass pieces that are placed together to look like tree trunks and a canopy of branches. The trees symbolize the Garden of Eden that a new couple builds together after they have left the Eden of their parents’ homes. The piece also includes a portable wedding kit with symbolic items necessary for the completion of a Jewish wedding ceremony.

View full article on eJewish Philanthropy.

Liora Alban is a rabbinic and education student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. She also serves as the rabbinic intern at Leo Baeck Temple.