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There is something I’d like to say about this which involves the knowledge, at this point in my life, that the persons who committed this act, and my father included, were good people. Confused, but good. There is, however, reticence within the Jewish community to discuss family violence openly, due to our fear of attacks. So until I find the safety, and because my father just died, I will limit the content of this narrative. Also, my intention here is not to generate hatred, but unless we start talking about these issues out loud, neither the victims/survivors nor the perpetrators nor their families will be able to heal, and prevent violence. I’ve created this painting with the idea that there needs to be a second part to the Ten Commandments. Not only do adults and parents need to be honored, but as equally, so do children. The painting itself is predominated by blues, a traditional color within Judaism and Jewish culture, and to me reminiscent of bluestone. The round tops of the commandments are my breasts and covered with gemstones. Similar to the breastplates on the priests of ancient Israel. I am here the priest. The Alef-Bet (Alef – first letter on left; Bet – second letter on right) are the first letters of the Hebrew alphabet. With their mystical, historical meanings. The combination of the two sometimes represents the Jewish people. Often the Alef is deemed to be “more active,” and thus male, the Bet female, because the Alef means “chief” or “ox,” and Bet means “home” or “temple.” Categorizing our letters this way is sexist. Therefore, in my work with the Hebrew alphabet, I have turned the letters around. Hebrew is usually written right to left, with the Alef being first. I have switched them, making Bet first and Alef second. And over the Bet I have put the shadow of an eagle, a sacred bird in our tradition, as a protection for me and for home. I’ve placed these letters on my breasts, recalling them as the Ten Commandments, as sacred and powerful, and stating that my body is Torah. A source of knowledge and wisdom, from which I learn and teach. I am an artist as a result of my physical and emotional healing process. So, the art I have created is not about pain, but the healing of it and about caring and about being powerful. And in the tradition of our culture I have created this art piece as a Midrash. That is when someone takes an old, original story or law from our tradition and talks about it. Stretches it, adds to it, tells stories about it. New stories, so that we are building new tradition as we go along. May that happen through this art. |
