2019 – בראשית ברא

The Creation of the world is an isue that has fascinated mankind for thousands of years.

The Book of Tikunei Zohar, which is attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, contains 70 midrashim, commentaries and explanations on the word "Bereshit". One of the wonderful explanations that he brings is a new reading for the same letters, in the same order, only with a different space –

Thus the words "Bereishit Bara (In the beginning He created)" become the words "Bara Sheitbare (He created for us to create)".

The Baal Shem Tov explained this combination and developed the "Concept of Eternal Creation":

"The Almighty glorifies, creates and does all creation and all human beings
Visible and invisible,
Always, now, and at any moment
Himself, and not by any emissaries.
The act of creation never ended, שs the Almighty continues to create his world and his
creatures every moment anew.
Therefore, man will see himself as born just now, as if now delivered by the Creator, blessed is He, at every new moment.
For he "renews in his goodness every day always in the act of creation" (Shacharis)
Because the Creator renews the Creation and  all human beings, every moment, in constant creation, and were not created once and then left, God forbid. But all the time He renews again the worlds and souls and will always entertain in His innovations "
(רבי ישראל בעל שם טוב, ספר הכללים, כלל ה', בריאה מתמדת ויסוד ההשגחה)

The Holy One, blessed is He, created a world that is constantly renewed – from the smallest “nano-micro” level, like a single cell or the DNA, to the constant creation of the “macro” – creation of stars, galaxies, and the universe.

In this exhibition, graduate students from "Start" – Visual Arts School – studied over a full year to in depth and thought, in order to inspire unique works of art that express the essence of Creation, the process and renewal of our creation.

Each piece combines deep thought with art, in a variety of materials, from pencil on paper, watercolors or ceramics to jewelry and ink on parchment. Every artpiece is an expression of an idea that conncts to the Creation of the world and the constant power of renewal by the Creator.

My prayer is that the projects presented in this exhibition inspire the heart and soul of the viewers, bringing them to a new insight on the constant renewal of Creation as a whole, and from this inspirations, new beginnings will emerge.

Dr. Nurit Sirkis Bank