(Genesis 1:3) :
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקִים, יְהִי-אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר
And G–od said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.
A few years ago, a student presented her final project1 to build a synagogue in the suburbs of Paris. This project draws inspiration from the prayer of rain, ‘Tikkun Hageshem’ which evokes divine blessings and the light that floods the earth. This prayer is recited on Chemini Atseret, the joyous festival for the Torah, celebrating spiritual light and community unity.
The architectural design represents the cloud, a symbol of lightness, intangibility, and unreality. The synagogue is conceived as a multitude of light droplets through glass bricks, creating a spiritual space. External light, passing through the glass bricks, illuminates the prayer hall, highlighting the Torah ark and the lectern.
1 Cloud of Light:: Where to Find the Booklet?
Last minute :
The Codex Sassoon, the oldest and most complete known Bible will be permanently exhibited at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People starting from October 11th. This remarkable manuscript is over 1,100 years old. It was acquired for approximately 38 million dollars at a public auction organized by Sotheby’s in New York and donated to the collection of the ANU Museum of the Jewish People through a generous donation.
