Monday, October 29, 2012

Blue Jews


There are white Jews, Black Jews, Asian Jews, and Arab Jews – but blue Jews? No, no such thing exists. Which is exactly why artist Siona Benjamin paints them. Blue is the color of water and sky. It belongs everywhere and nowhere, so when Benjamin paints her figures are often blue. If the Jews are blue, one cannot simply assume a race or identity to them, they could be anyone, at any time.

Blue JewsBorn in Bombay, Benjamin grew up amidst Hindus and Muslims and attended Catholic and Zoroastrian schools. She understands the ability of Jews to blend into their environment. An accomplished artist whose fine brushwork and vivid colors evoke the cultural themes of her native land, the subject of many of her paintings engage the stories of Jewish texts.  One look at her illustrations for the story of the biblical Queen Esther and I find myself considering this familiar tale from an entirely new point of view, how did she not stand out? What makes us able to choose not to see difference?

At this time of year Judaism can seem overly cerebral. Lots of praying, listening, talking and of course the exception to the rule, the eating. But the moment we finish with Yom Kippur we prepare for Sukkot. By contrast to High Holidays, Sukkot is about doing. It celebrates the very physical work of the harvest. It has us building physical structures and taking holy objects in our hands and shaking them about. Even the eating, with the moving in and out, is much more physical.

 And then there is the art. A Sukkah is meant to be decorated. Sure you can just buy a few premade chains or hang apiece of fruit, but you can also take the opportunity to stretch your Jewish thinking and engage with art as text or in creating new art.  There is a tradition of inviting ushpizin,mythical guests from the Jewish past into our Sukkot. Peruse Benjamin’s art online and ask yourself how her depictions of Jewish biblical figures might shape your own take on these potential guests, or inspire you to create your own artistic interpretations and representations. Who might you invite from ancient or even modern Jewish history? What would they look like? How would you depict them?

Those lucky enough to be in Northern California can come hang out with Benjamin and make art at Sukkot Under the Stars. But even if you are not in the area, or not even building a Sukkah, take some time this season to gather some friends, create and consider the possibilities inspired by Siona Benjamin and her blue Jews

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Ladino – Language of the Sephardic Jews


Speaking Ladino, or the older Castilian dialect, may indicate possible Jewish ancestry

Name Your RootsLadino, also sometimes known as Judeo-Spanish, Sephardic, Crypto-Jewish, Judezmo, Hakitia, or Spanyol, had its origins in 1492, when Jews were expelled from Spain. Over the centuries, the Spanish of the late 15th century as spoken by those Jews underwent changes as it was influenced by the various languages of the countries to which the Sephardic Jews emigrated.
Ladino meets the criteria of a distinct language, and is not merely a dialect of Spanish. Yet it and Spanish are not so different that speakers of the two can't communicate with each other. There are strong and obvious similarities, just as there are, for example, between Spanish and Portuguese.

The language of the Sephardim

When the 150,000 to 300,000 Jews left Spain, they took with them their languages. They took Hebrew, the language of prayer and study, which was not used at home or in the streets. The language of daily use was Castilian Spanish as it was spoken in the late 15th century. The language that many Jewish exiles took with them as they left Spain in 1492 still coincided with Castilian in many particulars, but had followed its own evolution down from Judeo-Latin, combined with Hebrew, Aramaic, the various peninsula dialects, and Judeo-Arabic over the centuries. In each of its new homes, it acquired elements from the surrounding languages, while preserving its Iberian core. It became a unique expression of Jewish traditions, lifestyle, culture, institutions and beliefs.


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Dr. Seuss Goes to War


Theodore Suess Geisel is best known for the 40-something children's books he wrote and illustrated under his pen name, Dr. Seuss. But he had quite an interesting "adult" career, as well.

From 1941-1943, Seuss was the chief editorial cartoonist for the New York newspaper PM, and during his reign, he drew more than 400 political cartoons. With World War II on his mind, Seuss' cartoons often took on Hitler, the Nazi Party, and anti-Semitism at home and abroad. 

In Dr. Seuss Goes to War, historian Richard H. Minear collects 200 of Seuss' political cartoons from PM. In one  titled "Spreading the Lovely Goebbel's Stuff" (September 18, 1941), a creature labeled as "Lindbergh" is shoveling out trash from the "Nazi Anti-Semite Stink Wagon." 

From January 21, 1942:  a baby Hitler portrayed throwing a bottle of milk at his mother, exclaiming, "I reject milk from Holstein cows as Non-Aryan." From April 1, 1942: a U.S. Nazi dragging Uncle Sam to get a "Great German Manicure" at the hands of an executioner wielding a large ax, labeled "Anti-Semitism."
The cartoons definitely don't have the same childlike charm as, say, Green Eggs and Ham, but plenty classic Seussian details--from skinny birds to tall top hats--show up in the Doctor's very adult cartoons.