Arts: Theater, Fine Arts, Music
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Honeycomb Changemakers Curriculum

GUIDING INVESTIGATIONS

  • What examples do we have in Jewish sources that are focused on expression through art?
  • How is self-expression through art forms used as a tribute to God?
  • Is artistic talent human acquired or God-given/God-inspired?
  • How might artistic expression and historic preservation intersect?

CORE SOURCES

The text below describes the artistic gifts of Bezalel who was the head architect and designer for the Tabernacle.

שמות ל״א:א׳-ה׳

(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (ב) רְאֵ֖ה קָרָ֣אתִֽי בְשֵׁ֑ם בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל בֶּן־אוּרִ֥י בֶן־ח֖וּר לְמַטֵּ֥ה יְהוּדָֽה׃ (ג) וָאֲמַלֵּ֥א אֹת֖וֹ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹקִ֑ים בְּחָכְמָ֛ה וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָֽה׃ (ד) לַחְשֹׁ֖ב מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת בַּזָּהָ֥ב וּבַכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַנְּחֹֽשֶׁת׃ (ה) וּבַחֲרֹ֥שֶׁת אֶ֛בֶן לְמַלֹּ֖את וּבַחֲרֹ֣שֶׁת עֵ֑ץ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת בְּכָל־מְלָאכָֽה׃

Exodus 31:1-5

(1) The LORD spoke to Moses: (2) See, I have singled out by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. (3) I have endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft; (4) to make designs for work in gold, silver, and copper, (5) to cut stones for setting and to carve wood—to work in every kind of craft.

Comprehension:

  • Where did Bezalel’s talents come from according to this text?
  • What are the talents this text outlines as it relates to Bezalel’s art?
  • What does this text tell us about the value of the arts in religion?

Challenges to Grapple With:

  • Should one person, with a specific talent, be given more honor than those who want to contribute but may not have talent in that area?

Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (אגרות הראי"ה ס' קנח) in his letter to the founders of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem (1906)

The desire [for the beginnings of an art institution in the land of Israel] is in essence a sign of life, a sign of hope, salvation and comfort. Our nation looks well upon the sweet beauty of art which is expressed through human creativity.

Comprehension:

  • How is art “a sign of life, a sign of hope, salvation and comfort?”
  • Why is it important for a fledgling nation to have a center for artistic expression?
דברים ל״א:י״ט-כ״א
(יט) וְעַתָּ֗ה כִּתְב֤וּ לָכֶם֙ אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וְלַמְּדָ֥הּ אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שִׂימָ֣הּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן תִּהְיֶה־לִּ֜י הַשִּׁירָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את לְעֵ֖ד בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (כ) כִּֽי־אֲבִיאֶ֜נּוּ אֶֽל־הָאֲדָמָ֣ה ׀ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי לַאֲבֹתָ֗יו זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ וְאָכַ֥ל וְשָׂבַ֖ע וְדָשֵׁ֑ן וּפָנָ֞ה אֶל־אֱלֹקִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ וַעֲבָד֔וּם וְנִ֣אֲצ֔וּנִי וְהֵפֵ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי׃ (כא) וְ֠הָיָה כִּֽי־תִמְצֶ֨אןָ אֹת֜וֹ רָע֣וֹת רַבּוֹת֮ וְצָרוֹת֒ וְ֠עָנְתָה הַשִּׁירָ֨ה הַזֹּ֤את לְפָנָיו֙ לְעֵ֔ד כִּ֛י לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכַ֖ח מִפִּ֣י זַרְע֑וֹ כִּ֧י יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶת־יִצְר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֤וּא עֹשֶׂה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם בְּטֶ֣רֶם אֲבִיאֶ֔נּוּ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי׃
Deuteronomy 31:19-21
(19) Therefore, write down this poem and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths, in order that this poem may be My witness against the people of Israel. (20) When I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey that I promised on oath to their fathers, and they eat their fill and grow fat and turn to other gods and serve them, spurning Me and breaking My covenant, (21) and the many evils and troubles befall them—then this poem shall confront them as a witness, since it will never be lost from the mouth of their offspring. For I know what plans they are devising even now, before I bring them into the land that I promised on oath.

Comprehension:

  • Where does the poem/song in this text originate from?
  • What is the goal/purpose of teaching this poem/song to others?
  • Who is supposed to learn this poem/song?
  • Why is it important that this lesson be taught in the form of song vs. prose?

Challenges to Grapple With:

  • What role does artistic expression play in preserving history? Is losing old art/music etc. also a historical loss? Why or why not?

The source below from Rashi comments on the source from Exodus. The comprehension questions are on both texts together. The text describes the song of joy/praise the Moses sang after the splitting of the Red Sea.

שמות ט״ו:א׳-ב׳
(א) אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽה' וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽה' כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃ (ב) עָזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֔הּ וַֽיְהִי־לִ֖י לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה זֶ֤ה אֵלִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹקֵ֥י אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ׃
Exodus 15:1-2
(1) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD. They said: I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea. (2) The LORD is my strength and might; He is become my deliverance. This is my God and I will enshrine Him; The God of my father, and I will exalt Him.
רש"י על שמות ט״ו:א׳

(א) אז ישיר משה. אָז כְּשֶׁרָאָה הַנֵּס עָלָה בְלִבּוֹ שֶׁיָּשִׁיר שִׁירָה.

Rashi on Exodus 15:1

(1) אז ישיר משה THEN SANG MOSES — with regard to the usage of the future ישיר, the meaning is: THEN — i. e. when he saw the miracle it entered his mind that HE WOULD SING a song.

Comprehension:

  • To whom are Moses and the people singing?
  • What event inspired Moses to create an artistic expression?
  • According to Rashi, who wrote the song?
  • If something “rises in your heart” – where does that come from? (Intellectual? Spiritual? Emotional?)

Challenges to Grapple With:

  • Should we celebrate in a cheerful song when others die – even if it means our safety? Why or why not?
  • What might have been a better way to artistically express themselves in this moment?

    This scene occurs after David again triumphs in a war, reigniting Saul's jealousy and hatred of David. A few verses earlier Saul had agreed to stop his hunt of David but in this verse his murderous intent returns.

    שמואל א י״ט:ט׳
    (ט) וַתְּהִי֩ ר֨וּחַ ה' ׀ רָעָה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וְהוּא֙ בְּבֵית֣וֹ יוֹשֵׁ֔ב וַחֲנִית֖וֹ בְּיָד֑וֹ וְדָוִ֖ד מְנַגֵּ֥ן בְּיָֽד׃
    I Samuel 19:9
    (9) Then an evil spirit of the LORD came upon Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing [the lyre].

    Comprehension:

    • Who are the two people in this scene? What are each of them doing? How might each of them be feeling?
    • What might David be trying to accomplish in this scene as it relates to Saul?
    • How can music change a person’s mood?

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    1. Preservation

    בבא בתרא י״ד ב

    שהלוחות ושברי לוחות מונחין בארון

    Bava Batra 14b

    ... both the second set of tablets and the broken pieces of the first set of tablets were placed in the Ark.

    2. Expressions from Famous Jewish Artists

    Yaacov Agam, prolific internationally-known Israeli sculptor

    I knew that I had to follow my heart to the end, that there could be no compromise in my art. My main goal was to glorify the power of Jewish thought in art.

    Julie Silver, American folk musician – Shir Chadash ( at least to 1:17)

    Shiru ladonai kol ha’aretz, Shiru ladonai shir chadash.

    Translation: Sing unto God all the earth a new song, I will sing unto God a new song. Sing unto God and we’ll all sing along, all the earth a new song unto God.

    Leonard Cohen, Canadian-Jewish singer and poet - Hallelujah (full lyrics in link)

    Now I've heard there was a secret chord

    That David played, and it pleased the Lord

    …

    And even though it all went wrong

    I'll stand before the Lord of Song

    With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

    Yehuda Amichai, Israeli poet - Shir Einsofi (Song without an End)

    ​​​​​​​Inside the brand-new museum

    there’s an old synagogue.

    Inside the synagogue

    is me.

    Inside me

    my heart.

    Inside my heart

    a museum.

    Inside the museum

    a synagogue,

    inside it

    me,

    inside me

    my heart,

    inside my heart

    a museum