Videos
Kasher, Kasher, Kasher
7mins. 55secs.
The practice of Mikveh is a private, even secret, side of married life for observant Jewish women, marking the turning point in the monthly cycle between being Nidah (spiritually unclean), and as such forbidden to her husband, and being spiritually clean again, and consequently available for sexual relations once more.
In my video I show a woman getting ready to use the Mikveh (Ritual Bath) by peeling off the layers of her outside self: her wig, jewellery, make-up, clothes; removing nail varnish, washing her whole body and hair, and brushing her teeth so that she ends up completely scrubbed from head to toe, without any embellishments whatsoever. It is in this state of physical purity that she must immerse herself three times in the waters of the Ritual Bath under the supervision of a qualified attendant, recite the Blessing, and when she emerges she is then spiritually clean too and deemed fit to renew intimate relationships with her husband after her monthly period.
Following this small, intensely personal and intimate ceremony between the Mikveh lady and the woman using the Mikveh, the woman puts back all the layers which she had removed: creams and make-up, clothes and jewellery and appears exactly the same afterwards as she had at the beginning.
My video asks: What has transpired? What change has occurred?
Letter to R, Moshe Ben Maimon from his brother David
Letter to R, Moshe Ben Maimon from his brother David
A translation into English of the last letter of David Ben-Maimon to his brother the Rambam. Shortly afterwards, David’s ship sunk at sea and he drowned. This sent the Rambam into a deep depression.
Sheitels
Sheitels
7minutes 53 seconds
This is a 3-part video, exploring different aspects of wigs as hair-covering for orthodox Jewish women.
Sitting Shiva
Sitting Shiva
2 minutes 18 seconds
‘Sitting shiva’ is the long-established Jewish practice of sitting in mourning, wearing a symbolically torn garment, following the burial of a first degree relative, for the period of a week (shiva is the Hebrew for 7). Family and friends visit, often bringing food, to comfort the bereaved and talk about his or her life. It can be a very tiring, confusing, yet satisfying experience.
This short video captures the mood of sitting shiva, with streams of overlapping visitors addressing the mourner.
Where did the Temples stand?
Where did the Temples stand?
וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם. Exodus 25:8
And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
According to the Bible, in ancient times our people asked for a King and for a House in which to serve God, in accordance with this quotation, and others.
The First Temple was built by Solomon early in 10th century BCE (BC) and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE; Ezra and Nehemia started building the Second House of God late in the 5th century BCE, it was re-built by Herod the Great in the late 1st century BCE, and destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE (AD).
Both the First and Second Temple stood on what is today called the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem, Israel.
Only the Western retaining wall of Herod’s rebuilt Second Temple survives today (Wailing Wall or Western Wall).
The Temples were considered God’s Home, a place for people to come and pray, bring sacrifices, attend to one’s spirit. They were central to Jewish life for over 1000 years. It is true that we can meet God anywhere, but His House was considered His special address.
The Dome of the Rock was first built on the Temple Mount in the late 7th century CE, precluding the rebuilding of the Jewish Home for God on the site. This has caused a lot of national and international tension and dissension, but the status quo stalemate is holding meanwhile.
Interestingly, there are 4 schools of thought regarding the size, position, depth and angle of the Temples on the Temple Mount.
My work here is an imagining of the second Temple as rebuilt by Herod, in one of the suggested historical locations.
As a Jew and a Jerusalemite I ask: Will it ever be rebuilt? Or must God remain homeless, and the Temple remain a residual national memory and prayer?