http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/07/08/sacred-or-superficial/ A Journal of Jewish Thought and Opinion Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:03:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/07/08/sacred-or-superficial/#comment-199214 Abigail Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:21:47 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/07/08/sacred-or-superficial/#comment-199214 It will not surprise you that I wrote a comment on that computer thingy at the end deconstructing the stance of the exhibition: in addition to all you mention above, it struck me as just *how* early C21st to end the exhibition with a computer where everyone could write their own feelings and random opinions about religioun based on, well, just about nothing (judging from the ones they displayed). While I do think it's worthwhile for people to express a "connection" to the subject matter of the exhibition, ending with this kind of thing to me debases the importance of the exhibition materials by confusing the idea of allowing a breadth of opinion to be heard with the reality TV idea that everyone's opinion is worth plastering on the wall. There are fora for this kind of discussion, but I don't think the very end of a manuscript exhibition is the right place for this, especially when there is relatively little "informed" discussion of the nature/roles of religion actually in the exhibition. It will not surprise you that I wrote a comment on that computer thingy at the end deconstructing the stance of the exhibition: in addition to all you mention above, it struck me as just *how* early C21st to end the exhibition with a computer where everyone could write their own feelings and random opinions about religioun based on, well, just about nothing (judging from the ones they displayed). While I do think it’s worthwhile for people to express a “connection” to the subject matter of the exhibition, ending with this kind of thing to me debases the importance of the exhibition materials by confusing the idea of allowing a breadth of opinion to be heard with the reality TV idea that everyone’s opinion is worth plastering on the wall. There are fora for this kind of discussion, but I don’t think the very end of a manuscript exhibition is the right place for this, especially when there is relatively little “informed” discussion of the nature/roles of religion actually in the exhibition.

]]> http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/07/08/sacred-or-superficial/#comment-196680 Mike S Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:50:09 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2007/07/08/sacred-or-superficial/#comment-196680 When I was in London about a decade ago, there was an exhibit of Jewish manuscripts at the British Museum. It included an autograph manuscript of a tshuvah of the Rambam. It was not beautifully calligraphed, but it was perhaps the most awe inspiring museum piece I have ever seen. When I was in London about a decade ago, there was an exhibit of Jewish manuscripts at the British Museum. It included an autograph manuscript of a tshuvah of the Rambam. It was not beautifully calligraphed, but it was perhaps the most awe inspiring museum piece I have ever seen.

]]>