GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE
The Festival of Sukkot is the biblical festival of the harvest and the pilgrimage. It revives the memory of the time during which Israel was a nomadic people in the desert and is supposed to increase the gratitude for the harvest. For the Festival of Sukkot (also known as the Feast of Booths and Feast of Tabernacles) a hut (Sukká) is built, in which Jewish people live during the harvest festival. The Sukkahs commemorate the shady and simple huts of the people of Israel during their migration in the Sinai desert.

Silhouette for the Sukkot, Westheim,
first half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

VENEZIA EBRAICA in the HEBREWS CYCLE

“In the folds of history treasures lie buried – not only demons.”
From Dora Kayser´s “Wortbrücken” for “Souls are browsing” (“Seelenblätter”).

Illumination for the order of prayers on Passover, Venice, 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

VENEZIA EBRAICA in the HEBREWS CYCLE

“The murmur of the prayers down there, shaking their heads with devotion, the rabbi is starting to sing. My place is the gallery. Behind the balustrade, I feel the breath of God and the thighs of my children.” By Karin Togler

Decorative sheet made of parchment of the women ́s gallery Italian synagogue, ghetto, Venice, 17th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2013 / 5773 ✡

VENEZIA EBRAICA in the HEBREWS CYCLE

“Look down into the mouldy wells:
The shadows are still praying there,
The rainbows are still laughing there,
The butterflies are still singing there along with the children ́s wet eyelids.”
By Jeschajahu Spiegel

Well in the ghetto and tik (wooden case for the Torah scroll), Venice, 17th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

VENEZIA EBRAICA in the HEBREWS CYCLE

“Midnight. Close the gate.
Outside there is the city: Shimmering, sparkling, singing. Inside there is darkness:
The world is tight.
Four guards – as a protection? Be quiet.
Go outside into the sun!”

Lock on a Torah shrine (Arón ha Kodésch), Venice, 17th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

VENEZIA EBRAICA in the HEBREWS CYCLE

A showcase with old prayer books and theological writings from the stock of the Protestant German church of Venice which has almost been forgotten. Who read these books? The books and writings could tell us about conspirational meetings and secret liturgies in the backrooms of the German trading house, the camouflage of the priests, treacherous murders in dark canals – persecuted over centuries.

J. F. Buddeus, Introductio ad historiam
philosophicae Ebraeorum, Dissertatio, Halae Saxonum, 1720
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

“The annihilation of the Jewish people has already been decided upon. Can I – as just one woman – avert this faith? With God ́s help, I can change the King ́s mind and rescue those who are mine.”

Portrait of Esther “Mordecai ́s dream”
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original

René Blättermann 2013/ 5773 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

The Hanukkah - festival commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Hellenes (167-165 B.C.). For dedication of the Holy Temple, there was only one bottle of kosher oil left. According to legend, with this the temple ́s menorah burned for eight days. In contrast to the temple ́s seven- branched candelabrum, the Hanukkah menorah (Menoráh schel Chánukka) consists of eight lights plus one, which is used to light the others.

Hanukkah menorah, Israel, 20th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡
(Privately owned)

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The ornaments of the Torah include fabrics and metal. The Torah breastplate (Tas) is made of metal. There are proofs that Torah breastplates are ritual objects since the 15th century and that they were especially prevalent in German (Ashkenazic) communities. The Torah breastplate is used to decorate the Torah scroll. Additionally, small tablets can be inserted in the front, which tell the name of the holiday.

Genizah find, Ichenhausen Germany,
1st half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The lion is the animal which traditionally symbolizes King David. It stands for sovereignty, power and protection in expectation of the messianic kingdom of peace. For Christians the lion is associated with Mark the Evangelist. The graphic work shows a metal fragment of a Torah breastplate, which was deposited in the Genizah in the attic of a rural synagogue in Southern Germany.

Genizah find, Ichenhausen Germany,
1st half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡
(Privately owned)

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The fragment of a metal Torah breastplate features a lion. The kabbalistic revelation vision describes the lion as the first one of the “holy animals”.

Genizah find, Ichenhausen Germany,
1st half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Genizah find with a fragmentary illustration of the Festival of Sukkot (also known as the Feast of Booths and Feast of Tabernacles), which is the festival of rejoicing and of the harvest. Traditionally, Sukkahs (huts) are built outside. Jews are supposed to sleep and eat in those huts for seven days. Every day one of the well-known biblical figures (Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, Joseph and David) should be welcomed as a guest.

Silhouette for the Sukkot, Westheim,
1st half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

ALEF BET in the HEBREWS CYCLE

“Man with feathers - tell us something about the wonderbird – about the shiny peacock, which lets go of a golden feather for those, who love and those, who dream.”

Abstraction with Semitic pictorgraphic writing, 1200 B.C.
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

ALEF BET in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Shin (ש) is the twenty-first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is a symbol for symmetry, the flame, the fire, the power of the Torah, the spritual advancement and for the peace of mind.

Shin
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡
(Comunità Ebraica di Venezia)

ALEF BET in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Lámed (ל) is the twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is the only letter with upward extensions. It is a symbol for human aspirations, the search for truth and the rise of knowledge.

Lámed
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

ALEF BET in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Tsade is the eighteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is a symbol for the (צ) determination of human beings. Written at the beginning of a word, it means the movement, which leads to reaching the goal. Written at the end of a word, it means the goal itself. The word “zaddik” (a righteous person) also starts with Tsade. At least 36 Zaddikim are said to live in the world without being recognized. The world lasts for their sake.

Tsade
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Over the course of the year, the Torah is read in a defined cycle. Every year it starts all over again. On Shabbat a weekly portion is read. The graphic work features this portion (pericope): Parashat Nasso (פרשת נשא).

Genizah find, Germany, 18th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2010 / 5771 ✡

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The reading of the Torah is divided into portions according to the Jewish calendar, which means it ends with its last part – Moses ́ blessing and death - on the last day of the Festival of Sukkot and then begins with the first passage of the first book of the Torah once again. This day is known as Simchat Torah ("Joy of the Torah"). The fragment with the title Parashat Nasso
( פרשת נשא ) is one of the Genizah finds from Germany.

Genizah find, Germany, 18th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

v René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡
(Privately owned)

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Often there are only fragments of the religious writings in genizahs preserved. The graphic work features the Parashat Nasso (פרשת נשא), a portion of the weekly Torah reading.

Genizah find, Germany, 18th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2010 / 5771 ✡

KIDDUSHÍN in the HEBREWS CYCLE

After the so-called “sanctification” during which a ring owned by the groom is given to the bride under the canopy, the groom shatters a glass as a symbol of remembrance for the destruction of Jerusalem. The mourning for Jerusalem is supposed to be never forgotten even during joyful events like a wedding.

Wedding ring, Worms, around 1800
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

KIDDUSHÍN in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Kiddushin means sanctification. During the wedding ceremony the groom puts the ring on the bride ́s finger and says: "With this ring, you are consecrated to me according to the law of Moses and Israel." The graphic work features a wedding ring with the engraving “Mazel tov” (“good luck”).

Wedding ring, Worms, around 1800
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

KIDDUSCHÍN in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Masál tov (Hebrew for “good luck”, but used like “congratulations”), the Jewish wedding congratulation, and pomegranates, the oriental fruits of love, are engraved on the wedding ring. The ring was found as a model drawing made by a goldsmith in the medieval Jewish quarter of Worms. If the ring was realized according to the model drawing is unknown.

Wedding ring, Worms, around 1800
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

KIDDUSHÍN in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The wedding ring is a find from an antiques market. It was wrapped in a tissue and looked grey and ugly – offered for sale by vendors from Eastern Europe. What might be the eventful story of this ring? Now it shows its restrained shine and its original purpose again.

Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

KIDDUSHÍN in the HEBREWS CYCLE

A Jewish wedding ring from Toledo - a city, which was one of the most famous cities of religious scholarship in medieval times. For a short period of time in the 11th century Christians, Muslims and Jews lived together in a tolerant manner and had a fruitful dialogue.

Wedding ring, Toledo, presumably around 1700
Fine art pigment print on canvas,
23-karat gold leaf
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

KIDDUSHÍN in the HEBREWS CYCLE
The Jewish wedding ring from Toledo contains a piece of the Ketubah, the marriage contract.

Wedding ring, Toledo, presumably around 1700
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡
(Privately owned)

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The faded image of a pious dinner. The fragment of much-thumbed religious texts, which were stored in the attic of a rural synagogue, commemorates generations of religious people of the past who once used them.

Genizah find, Fürth, around 1770
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The fragment is taken from the Book of Exodus, chapter 7: The Plagues of Egypt. The caption is in Yiddish and reads: „Got schikt ouf Far'o freschen un' in ganzen land Mizrajim (...) die machaschfim wolten auch freschen mit kischuf machen“ ('God sends the plague of frogs to the pharaoh and in all of Egypt magicians want to make frogs with the help of their art').

(Deciphering: Prof. Erika Timm, Trier University, research project Genizah).

Genizah find, Fürth, around 1770
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡
(Comunità Ebraica di Venezia)

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

“Zenerene” (from The Song of Solomon 4:8). The Yiddish text was printed for the first time around 1600. It is the most read book in Yiddish and hundreds of editions were printed. It is still published today.

(Deciphering: Prof. Erika Timm, Trier University, research project Genizah).

Genizah find, Fürth, around 1770
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

The Torah scroll is richly decorated. The Torah ornaments consist of the Torah mantle (Me'il), the Torah wimpel, the Torah curtain (Paróchet) – often connected to a valance (Kappóret), the Torah pointer (Yad), the Torah breastplate (Tas), the Torah rimonim (Rimmoním) or the Torah crown (Kéter).

Torah mantle, Worms, 18th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

The graphic work shows the Torah mantle (Me'il), which is part of the Torah ornaments. The Torah (Hebrew for teaching/ instruction) is traditionally written accurately by hand on parchment, which is produced according to special standards. More specifically, the Five Books of Moses are known as the Torah. The reading of the weekly Torah portion (Paraschá) over the course of the year is the center of the religious life of Judaism.

Torah mantle, Worms, 18th century
Fine art pigment print on canvas,
23-karat gold leaf
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

The graphic work shows a richly embroidered Torah mantle, which encases the roll of parchment with its carefully and artfully handwritten text of the Torah. The reading of the Torah (Hebrew for teaching/ instruction) is the integral part of the religious life of Judaism.

Torah mantle, Worms, 18th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

Schir ha Schirím (Hebrew for “Song of Songs”), also known as The Song of Solomon, is the famous, yearning, tender and erotic love song of the Old Testament.

Genizah find “Zenerene”
(from The Song of Solomon 4:8)
Fürth, around 1770
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

The Festival of Lights – Hanukkah - is celebrated for eight days and commemorates the victory of the Maccabees in the culture war against Hellenism. Every evening one light after the other of the Menoráh schel Chánukka is lighted until all lights are burning on the last evening.

Hanukkah menorah, Israel, 20th century
Fine art pigment print on canvas,
23-karat gold leaf
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡
(Privately owned)

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

From Schir ha Schirím (Hebrew for “Song of Songs”): “Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions’ dens and the mountain haunts of leopards. You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.”

Genizah find “Zenerene”
(from The Song of Solomon 4:8)
Fürth, around 1700
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡
(Dominican Convent Mainz)

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The Tree of Life (Etz ha Chá'im) is the central symbol of the traditional Kabbalah teachings, which represent a mystical interpretation system of the relationship between God, the world and the people. It provides insights into the world inside and around us and commemorates the Tree of Knowledge (Genesis, chapter 2).

Genizah find, detail of a Torah breastplate, Ichenhausen, Germany
First half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡
(Privately owned)

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

The Hebrew word for soul is נפש (Nefesch). “Souls are connecting the inside with the outside. They are melting in metaphorical dialogues. Transparency turns into a body, colors turn into new elements.”

Abstraction with lines of the poem “Seelen blättern (souls are browsing)”
by Dora Kayser
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

Etz Ha Chá'im (Hebrew for Tree of Life). The Tree of Life was reinterpreted as the tree of lights in ancient times – symbolizing the eternal life and the hope for the arrival of the Messiah. Based on the shape of the seven-branched candelabrum, it has become the most common symbol of Judaism.

Genizah find, detail of a Torah breastplate, Ichenhausen, Germany
First half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The seven-branched candelabrum - the menorah - is a formally reduced image of the Tree of Life (Etz ha Chá'im). According to the Kabbalistic tradition, the Tree of Life is a symbol for the balance in human life based on a steady center.

Genizah find, detail of a Torah breastplate, Ichenhausen, Germany
First half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

GENIZAH in the HEBREWS CYCLE

The Hebrew letter Zádej (צ) is also connected to the Tree of Life (Ez ha Chá'im). Its roots grow deep in the ground from which the tree draws its nourishment. Its crown reaches into the sky from which it draws sunlight.

Genizah find, detail of a Torah breastplate, Ichenhausen, Germany
First half of the 19th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

“Behind curtains of the past, oblivion dances against knowledge.” From Dora Kayser´s “Wortbrücken” for “Souls are browsing” (“Seelenblätter”)

Gravestone with a winged hourglass,
Jewish cemetery in Stockelsdorf,
Germany, 18th century
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2013 / 5773 ✡
CHURCH COMMUNITY STOCKELSDORF

SYNAGOGA in the HEBREWS CYCLE

As a symbol of Judaism, the Synagoga - as a sculpture on portals - can also often be found in the group of images of the foolish virgins. The Synagoga is equipped with typical iconographic features like the fallen crown, the broken lance, blindfolded and a goat ́s head in her hand. They symbolize the loss of power, delusion and the sacrificial animal of the Old Testament.

Synagoga, Lübeck, around 1400
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original/ unique piece

René Blättermann 2012 / 5772 ✡

HEBREWS
A CYCLE Drawing From Over 3000 Years of History

The frieze on the northern facade of the Lübeck city hall, which was built in the 18th century, features a small sculpture of a Jew with typical features like the kippah and sidelocks. He holds a moneybag in his left hand while his right hand rests on the naval coat of arms. This was supposed to demonstrate the “bullying of the Lübeck commerce and shipping by the Jews”. Across from him sits the Lubecca crowned with the Holsten Gate, an allegory of the patron saint of the Hansa.
(Research: Albrecht Schreiber, Lübeck)

Sculpture, Lübeck, around 1800
Fine art pigment print on cotton
Original / unique piece

René Blättermann 2011 / 5772 ✡