2023 – אורות וכלים

Light is infinite, containers are limited. Actually, "containers" are essentially  the complete opposite of "Light",  though both maintain a delicate, multi-faceted and complex relationship. Lights and Containers symbolize two extreme contraries, since light is essentially unlimited, while the very essence of a container is in its limitations.

The concepts and relationships between "Containers and Lights"  can be interpreted in various layers of existence, starting from the optical physical levels, going through the emotional, mental, and even abstract and spiritual dimensions of these two opposites.

On the physical level, “containers”, "vessels",  “utensils”, “tools” and “instruments” are by definition man-made. They are made from a variety of materials and are intentionally shaped and formed for a range of specific uses. Since the dawn of humanity, mankind has developed new vessels, instruments and tools: starting from containers and eating utensils, through musical instruments, weapons, measuring vessels, medical tools,  ornamental containers, and even toys and game utensils. The container, in Hebrew “KLI”,  by its very nature, is limited in size, shape, and materials from which it is made, according to the specific task and mission for which it was designed and created for.

Unlike containers, vessels, utensils and tools, light itself is essentially infinite and unlimited,  signified by the  Hebrew word “Or”. Recent research in optical physics has discovered that light has a unique structure called the wave-particle duality. This means that light rays are both electromagnetic waves, and at the same time they are massless light particles, which  exhibit wave properties. The combination of these effects makes "light" different from all other physical phenomena in the world. The main source of light on planet earth is the sun, light which allows not only vision, but also sustains processes necessary for the life and prosperity of vegetation, animals, and humans. Fire is another natural source of light, nevertheless, throughout history of mankind, various forms of light have been developed, such as the electric lamp, fluorescent, LED, and even laser rays have been discovered, capable of performing physical processes such as cutting, melting and bonding materials. Rays of light can be used, transferred and focused, using lenses and mirrors, and this focus can start a fire. The white light beam breaks into the many colors of the rainbow from cool purple ultraviolet to burning hot infrared rays. Each color of the rainbow has a different wavelength and different heating or cooling properties. The light rays can even be reflected and returned, through mirrors, and contemporary research reveals that the physical light itself has healing and recovery properties.

The concepts of "Lights and Containers” are also used as metaphors in the emotional, psychological and mental aspects of our lives. In the therapeutic field, there is a lot of talk about emotional tools, about the inner vessel, about the capacity for inclusion, emotional containment, and self acceptance. All these terms are connected to the idea of the human being as a vessel or container of Divine abundance .Every person can actually develop and expand their own unique inner- emotional vessel. When a person has strong and developed emotional and mental tools to cope with reality, he is able to face life's challenges, and even find the "light" at the end of the tunnel, even in situations of total emotional darkness. Positive human behaviors are described in terms of light, such as the definition of people as "enlightened" or "illuminating".

Light also has a metaphorical aspect, as described in Jewish thought and literature throughout the ages. Since ancient times, “Light " has been used to describe abstract concepts such as mind, soul, consciousness, prophecy, spirituality, and even as a symbolic expression of G-d.

The Torah opens with the verse "And G-d said, Let there be light, and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). In the prophecies of the End of Days, the concept of "light" foreshadows redemption: "The moon will shine its light like the sun, and the sun light will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted." (Isaiah, 30:20).
In the book of Psalms light is likened to goodness and life: "the light of life". 

In the Middle Ages, Rabbi Saadia Gaon wrote in his book:"The Light that is called Shechinah", (Emunot and Deot 2:8). In Kabbalah literature we find the terms "infinite light", "primordial light", "pure light", "superior light", "the light of the seven days", "the hidden light".
Rabbi Chaim Vital, a student of the Ari z”l, wrote: "For before…. the creatures were created, there was a supreme light that filled all reality and that is what is called the infinite light" (Sefer Etz Chaim) The Ramchal writes: "The light is the thinnest thing in the material world" (Pitchei Chochma, Petach 5, 1).

In the teachings of Chasidus, the concepts of "Light and Vessel” have been given a central meaning, where they are not only an abstract spiritual idea but also give guidance for life.
The Chasidic concept of "Light" refers to Divine abundance that comes down from higher worlds and is revealed in this world, in a similar way to rays of light spreading from the sun. The term "vessel or container" refers to anything that receives abundance from something else, and the container catches the light according to its own definitions. When the sublime light arrives in our physical world, the  "light" needs "vessels" that will be able to contain it and bring it into real expression. The "light" itself emanates from an infinite source, which continues to pour forth unlimited abundance. While the container is limited and finite.

The interrelationship between the light and the container is complex. The balanced and desired state is the ability of our emotional, mental and physical vessels in the world to contain this enormous "light". By keeping the Mitzvos and studying the Torah, one builds within himself the tools to contain the light. But there are times when there is a reality of "multiple lights without container", a great spiritual abundance comes and there is not enough ability to contain and direct it in a constructive way. There is also a spiritual reality of "broken containers", in which all the light that enters, does not remain, or vessels that do not face the light and therefore remain empty. The meaning behind these ideas is that the Supreme Influencer, the Creator of the world, pours infinite light without interruption and without condition, so that if a person feels any kind of  lack, the cause of this is not from the Influencer's side – but from the receiver's end: either his container cannot contain the abundance of light, or it is broken, or his vessel is not directed towards the light. When the person does his work in building the spiritual vessel suitable for containing the light, the divine abundance manifested as "light", will return and fill his life.

In Jewish Thought, Chassidus and Kabbalah, there is a discussion about different types of "lights".
The first is "direct light" – a  light and abundance given endlessly by the Blessed Creator who shines from the upper worlds into this world.
Then there is the "returning light" which is a reflection of the infinite light and its return from the bottom up – from this world back to the upper worlds. A Ba’al Teshuva is compared to a returning light, which was initially distant, in darkness, and when he discovered the Divine light, he changed his actions from darkness to light, thus affecting  the upper worlds as well.
And lastly we have the "inner light" – which is the spiritual abundance that man was able to contain and put into his own vessels, – and the "surrounding light" – which expresses the spiritual steps that man aspires to, but has not yet reached.

In this Exhibition, the various art pieces examine the delicate and complex relationships between the Lights and the Containers. These complex and lofty concepts are translated into each artist's personal interpretation of the lights and tools in her personal life, her world, her relationships and her approach to the world. In an in-depth process that developed over an entire year, each artist explored the concepts of "lights" and "vessels" and searched for her personal statement through creating an accurate visual expression. The exhibition seeks to touch precisely the more complex, unresolved, challenging places where there is ambiguity, incompleteness, open questions or issues in the complex relationship between the spiritual, supreme, infinite light and the material and limited vessels, tools and containers.

I pray that this exhibition will inspire the visitors to devote time and look deeply into the complex connections between "lights" and "containers", and in the hope that these insights will continue to resonate and develop within them even after they leave the walls of the exhibition.