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This is not a comprehensive selection of the museum’s word objects. On
view in WORDworks is only a
part of a much larger collection. This is also not an exhibition of rare
books. It IS an exhibition
about words. True, the Jewish people are known as
The People of the Book (The
Holy Bible.) and, words do fill books, so it follows that books are
included here, many of them quite rare, such as a 16th century Torah
commentary with an actual censor’s mark that takes us right back to the
horrors of the Inquisition. The breadth of this exhibition is indicated
by an actual 18th century newspaper with mention of Haym
Solomon that links Jewish history to the American Revolution; an Iraqi
Torah Tik, and a menu from a
There are ordinary books alongside rare ones, such as a family Haggadah
with the Seder leader’s hand written annotations still intact telling us
which guest is to read what and when. The annotated Haggadah is as much
a treasure as are the commentary and newspaper. Cookbooks, children’s
books, classroom copy books; collected treasures and cast-offs rescued
from oblivion are here too.
In this exhibition are a range of book objects: An antique
Hebrew-English typewriter, traditional printed books and pamphlets;
limited edition and hand made artist books; and scrolls hand lettered by
trained scribes. But words fill more than books. Words fill letters;
direct us in signs; tempt us in advertising; delight us in music and
art; bring religious ritual off the written page to our doorposts and to
our own bodies; record our life cycle events; Words help us approach the
sacred. Words are power.
Words fill folk objects such as a roughly made Torah amulet, formed from
an old tin can. In its simplicity could it invoke the words of the Torah
and ward off evil spirits? Of course, there are ephemera, paper objects
never meant to be saved beyond their original purpose. How much poorer
would we be if Emanuel Sufrin had not saved and treasured the simple
mimeographed Haggadah he was issued for the Passover Seder he observed
as a soldier on active duty in WWII?
It survived because of the meaning particular words held for this
one soldier. The objects here all have extensive histories. There is
much to be learned from knowing their backgrounds. But as
WORD OBJECTS they also stand
on their own. In a way, they speak for themselves.
NOTE: Selections from the museum’s textile collection are not included
here because it will be featured in our spring 2012 exhibition.
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