Jerusalem & surroundings
The 18th Century Venetian Sukkah By Malka Ehrenberg
T
he resilience of the Jewish people manifests in countless respects. Our history points to the magnitude of our small nation’s great achievements, and highlights the unique manner in which Jews took their predicament in one hand, the Torah in the other, and soldiered on. One such area that unmistakably exemplifies Jewish steadfastness and creativity is in Jewish artwork. For centuries, the joy and dedication that the Jewish people found walking on the path of Torah have been displayed through their art. Often adopting the style of the countries and periods in which they lived, Jews chose to glorify their traditional lifestyle in this way. Italian Jewish art in particular is an interesting subject because the scrupulous attention to detail and clear Italian influence are truly stunning, yet do not outshine the Jewish essence of the art. The periods during which Jewish art in Italy expanded and flourished extends from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 19th century, with the most extraordinary pieces dating from the Renaissance and Baroque period. There are beautiful collections of Torah scroll decorations, menorahs, arks, wine goblets, basins for washing hands, etc., all manufactured using precious metals and fabrics combining ancient and traditional Jewish motifs with the Italian culture. Still, there was not quite complete freedom for Jews to express their beliefs, whether in practice or in art. There was a prohibition on Jewish craftsmanship that was widespread across Europe, forcing many Jewish families to commission the artwork from non-Jewish artisans, influenced by their own tastes and expertise. This seeming stumbling block in the development of Jewish art actually led to the construction of a very unique piece— a sukkah that once belonged to the Sullam family that dates back to 18th century Venice. It is now on display at The U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art, in Jerusalem.
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The Sullam family, similar to most Jews of Venice, built their sukkah on the balcony of their home, overlooking narrow, flowing canals and swaying gondolas. Unfortunately, clotheslines hung across the canals presented an unpleasant view for those sitting in the sukkah. In place of despairing, the Sullams were innovative and found a way to stop the laundry from dominating their view. They had a non-Jewish artisan paint large simulated windows on the walls of the sukkah, with scenes from Exodus visible through them. Four panels are found in the museum today. Each depicts another scene from the Torah: the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, the song of Miriam, the gathering of the manna, Pharaoh and his horse drowning in the Red Sea, and Moses striking the rock to obtain water for the Israelites.
The beautiful oil paintings and ingenuity of the sukkah alone are noteworthy, but what’s additionally distinctive is the personal way in which the commissioned artist interpreted the Biblical events. If one looks closely at the panels, one will notice the Venice lagoon portrayed as the Red Sea and in the background of the scene, the city of Venice itself. Also, the Israelites in the oil paintings were painted wearing the traditional garb of 18th century Italy! This remaining piece of art gives us an insight into our history, reminding us of the fervor of the Jewish people in the face of hardship. Our nation is always and has always been striving to upkeep the Torah laws, while beautifying it, keeping its spirit alive, and cultivating it, without straying from the Jewish identity. For more info on hours, call 02-624-1610 or see http:// www.jija.org/
Malka Ehrenberg made aliyah in Sept 2008. She was a student at Midreshet Harovah, and will begin her mechinah studies at Hebrew U. after Sukkot.