In Jewish tradition, one of the pillars of Jewish practice, Sabbath, or Shabbat, is observed in many ways, including going to synagogue, cooking a special meal, resting from work or physical activity and reflecting on life outside of our daily routines. The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU presents an exhibition, The Seventh Day: Revisiting Shabbat, that features contemporary and often provocative depictions of Shabbat through the works of leading international artists. The Seventh Day opens with a preview reception on Monday, April 13th, and will be on view April 14 – October 25, 2015.
Over millennia, the interpretation and the practice of Shabbat has evolved, changed, and expanded to meet the needs of people, respond to the growth of rabbinic law, and adapt to the travails of living in the Diaspora. The Jewish celebration of the seventh day, encourages the following actions: Welcoming the moment, Giving charity, Blessing loved ones, Illuminating the dark, Acknowledging the fruits of the land, Sustaining life and the environment, Connecting with others, Sanctifying intimacy and sexuality, Continuing spiritual education, Awakening the senses, Imprinting generational memory, and Pausing to meditate, to achieve serenity, ease, peace.
Alex Gruss, 1957, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Six Days of Creation, 2013, Wood, mother of pearl, copper, ink, 18″ x 38″
With a rapidly changing Jewish community, characterized by increasing ethnic diversity, interfaith families, challenges affecting the organized institutions of Jewish life, and an unprecedented acceptance in the fabric of North American life, what does the seventh day mean to contemporary Jews who may or may not choose to adhere to traditional observance?
The artists in this exhibition have tackled this question, resulting in these works of art born out of an era where technology and culture have eroded the boundaries separating work, play, and repose.
The Seventh Day includes pieces based on Sabbath texts and functional ritual objects such as candlesticks, challah plates and covers. Concepts from midrash and the Kabbalah, reflecting mystical spirituality, also have inspired these artists. These contemporary artworks engage our imagination and invite us to delve into the possibilities and new definitions of renewal, symbolized by the ‘day of rest.’ Traveling exhibit from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion Museum, New York.
Preview Reception: Monday, April 13, 2015, 6pm
$18 JMOF-FIU Members (Free for $125 Level+)
Non-Members can join at the door!
ADVANCE TICKETS: http://bit.ly/the7thdayshabbat
RSVP: [email protected] or 786.972.3175
Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU
301 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Ph: 305-672-5044
www.jewishmuseum.com
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