The Temple Judea Museum
ELEMENTAL ISRAEL: From a Scientist’s Point of View
March 26 – June 30, 2010
The Temple Judea Museum’s Spring 2010 exhibition showcases our noted archaeological collection as part of the Legacy Foundation Israel Grant we received to look at Israel through the lens of science. In addition to the archaeological collection the exhibition includes photographs of Israel by noted photographers Richard Bitan and Jack Hazut, art work by students in the KI Confirmation Academy, and an artist’s view of the subject by members of the KI Artists’ Collaborative*. This exhibition explores the relationship between the Bible and science within the framework of the modern accomplishments of high tech Israel.
Curator’s Note: The poetry of the Bible is infused with references to science and the natural world. This does not mean that one has to try to understand the Bible scientifically. Rather, the fact that in the Bible, nature is a constant present force and informs our own relationship to the natural world of ancient Israel and the People of the Land and the Book. For the artist this connection between biblical narrative and science is a poetic invitation to visual flights of fancy.
Rita Rosen Poley
Artists: KI Artists’ Collaborative members exhibiting in this exhibition: Linda Nesvisky, Joan Myerson Shrager, Joanne Brown
Biblical Inspiration: What follows is one of the many biblical passages that have inspired the exhibiting artists:
EARTH SCIENCES (ELECTRICITY)
KINGS 1: ELIJAH
Elijah proposes a direct test of the powers of Baal and the God of Israel. Two altars are built, one for Baal and one for the God of Israel. Wood and an oxen sacrifice are laid on the altars. Elijah then invites the priests of Baal to pray for fire to light the sacrifice. They pray from morning to noon without success. Elijah orders that his altar be drenched with water and asks God to accept the sacrifice. Fire falls from the sky, igniting the sacrifice. Elijah must have known that water attracts lightning hence by pouring a lot of water on his altar, he took advantage of this “scientific” fact.
Chapter 18
Verses 2.2 - 24 “…….let them (prophets of Baal) choose one bull….lay it on the wood but not apply fire; I will prepare the other bull…..and not apply fire. You (prophets of Baal) will then invoke your god by name, and I will invoke the Lord by name, and let us agree, the god who responds with fire, that one is God.”
Verse 32. “…and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord.”
Verse 34. “…and he said, “fill four jars with water and pour it over the burnt offering and the wood…..do it a second time……do it a third time….and they did.”
Verse 38. “Then fire from the Lord descended and consumed the burnt offering…..and it licked up the water….”