ARGAMAN CULTURAL PROJECT
22.04.2021
ARGAMAN - MUSEUM OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE – SYNAGOGUES EXHIBITION
April 9th, 2021 - Tel Aviv and Central Region
Guide and informal educator Asya Fix began our tour in the newly revamped Museum of the Jewish People with the story of the Khodorov Synagogue ceiling and the importance of preserved wooden synagogues and old murals. We spoke about the connection of drawings with Kabbalistic symbols and traditions of Eastern Eurpean Jews. We continued the tour with an historical introduction of the functions of the synagogue and archaeological evidence of the first synagogues in Israel. Then we moved from one model to another, discussing the history, architecture, traditions and customs of different European Jewish communities, the differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews, the migration of Jews in the Middle Ages, and which buildings survive in Eastern Europe to this day. We ended our journey on the third floor with a photograph by Roman Vishnyak from his book “A Vanished World”.
I never was in this museum before but it seems that it would be hard to enjoy these exhibitions without a professional guide. So thank you Argaman project for such a detailed review of the Jewish world before the Second World War. It’s very important to remember and share.
Ira B.
UNKNOWN GALLERIES OF TEL-AVIV
April 23rd, 2021 - Tel Aviv and Central Region
Maria Malakh, a Jewish educator, specializing in israeli art, led us around Tel Aviv through small galleries of mainly contemporary Israeli art. We started with the Braverman Gallery, where we talked about the female body, depression and hysteria (a great start for Friday), and then moved on to the Noga and Sommer Gallery, where we talked about painting artists' self-expression. A special bonus was a small gallery at the French Institute, where we met one of the artists who spoke about her work. During this walk, we tried less to understand contemporary art and more to catch our emotions when looking at various artworks.
Firstly, it was fun to visit such places which I would never have found by myself. And secondly, I always thought that behind each object there must lie deep thought. But it turns out that sometimes you just need to b be able to hear your own thoughts and the meaning comes to you. Thanks Argaman, it was very interesting.
Michal S.
