Ofer Rubin, Six and One

Picture of six wood Stars of David arranged around a central Star of David is courtesy of My friend Rosh Pina artist Ofer Rubin.
Copyright: Ofer Rubin 2007

Explosive Situation

Photo of Star of David made from matches is courtesy of Hayim Shtayer. Eyal Gershon, second year student in Wizo Design Academy in Haifa, under the instruction of Hayim Shtayer, designed it in 2005 while there was in the air in Israel a possibility of war between brothers because of the evacuation of settlements in Gaza Strip.
Copyrights: Eyal Gershon 2007

Hopes For The Future

Rabbi Ellen Lippmann wrote on "kolot chayeinu" web page:

I wonder if there is a divide between Judaism and Israel as it is now. Last year, I helped create a series of workshops for Muslim youth, with a few Jews and Christians participating. At the end, they created a mural about their hopes for the future. On the mural was the Star of David. One of the young men who helped with the project said that a few of the children felt very comfortable acknowledging Judaism through the Star of David, but not the Israeli flag. One of the boys said he sees the flag as an oppressive symbol, but sees the Star of David as a religious symbol that in Islam must be respected and honored, because the Jews are the people of the Book. It's amazing that children can distinguish between the religion, the people, and the political situation, while adults have a hard seeing the difference.

Ofer Rubin, Israeli Reality

Picture is courtesy of artist Ofer Rubin. This work takes part in an exhibition titled 60 years old [Israel] opens its eyes
Opening: 15.10.2007
Rosh Pina Museum
In the exhibition's catalog I found the following caption about it:

Wood, glass, mirrors and candles
50 cm – 150 cm
This piece reflects the reality of living in Israel today showing the real side of our lives in wood and the illusionary side in mirrors and glass. Future abundance is represented in silver coins and crystals. In the center the Star of David symbolizes the end that is known to all of us.
Ofer Rubin, 45, from Rosh Pina, creates “Jerusalem Wind- chims” some of which are found all across Israel as memorials or as environmental sculptures.

Copyright: Ofer Rubin 2007

An Olive Leaf

Miriam Mehadipur: "As Olive Leaf"

The Star of Goliath Number Two

Oriol Poveda wrote in IMEMC on Thursday October 11, 2007 an article titled The Star of Goliath. It attracted my attention since I used the same caption for one of my Hebrew postings and hoped someone liked it and used it. My article focused on archaeology while Oriol Poveda’s article deals with politics. I bring you only a few paragraphs and recommend you to read the original article in its entirety:

It is difficult to say whether myths are created by nations or nations by myths… In fact, Israel is living proof of how powerful myths can be in nation-building… the biblical episode of David's battle against Goliath plays a central role. Ever since its establishment, Israel has presented itself in terms which recall the figure of the Hebrew champion: a small and righteous country (i.e. democratic) facing the Goliath of vast and densely populated Arab countries ruled by dictators... In Palestine, indeed, the IDF is the Goliath relying on sheer force and intimidation to maintain an unlawful and brutal occupation. To round off the metaphor, it is worth recalling the images that have been pouring out since the First Intifada, images of thousands of young Palestinians confronting the Israeli army with no other protection than their bodies and the very same device that David used to defeat his foe: the sling.

Floor Cloth

Photo is courtesy of Hayim Shtayer.
Tal Laor, second year student in Wizo Design Academy in Haifa, under the instruction of Hayim Shtayer, designed this Super-provocative poster for Israel’s 58th Independence Day.
It shows the Israeli Flag [including the Star of David] as a Floor Cloth. It reminds me of the works of painters Komar and Melamid showing swastika inside the Star of David. Critics said if they were not Jews they would have been accused as anti-Semites.
What softens the hard impression is the fact that the flag looks new and proud and not old and used.
Copyright: Tal Laor 2007