Rainsticks

Giclée prints, Dead Sea salt, carboard.

Exhibited at «HaErev Na», Kol HaOt, Jerusalem, October 2023. Curated by Eli Kaplan-Wildmann.

 

“On Hoshana Rabbah, the judgment is sealed after almost two months of repentance, including the divine verdict regarding the amount of rainfall expected that year. As part of the ancient prayers for the coming of rain, it is customary to strike five willow branches on the floor on this day, creating a sound reminiscent of the dripping of water from heaven. The work Rainsticks examines the process of repentance through a syncretic connection between Hoshana Rabbah and the rain rituals of indigenous cultures in South America. The musical sticks, filled with Dead Sea salt, present collages of water holes naturally formed in the salt deserts of northwestern Argentina – a hint at the constant presence of wells, water, and salt in Jewish texts that deal with purification and atonement. In Jewish symbolism, pits and wells appear in various contexts of transgression and repentance. For example, pits are a primary source of harm to others and of heavenly punishment, but they also symbolize repentance: the water returns to the cistern, turning it into a well that fills the purifying mikveh.» –Eli Kaplan-Wildmann.

 

בְּשׁוּב עָם מֵחֲטֹא צָו שְׁאָב מַיִם
When the people repented from sinning, he commanded: «Draw water» –Hoshanot

כֹּל תַּקָּלָה בּוֹר הוּא
Every obstacle is a pit –Bava Kamma

נֶאֱמַר ״בְּרִית״ בְּמֶלַח, וְנֶאֱמַר ״בְּרִית״ בְּיִסּוּרִין, נֶאֱמַר ״בְּרִית״ בְּמֶלַח, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְלֹא תַשְׁבִּית מֶלַח בְּרִית״ וְנֶאֱמַר ״בְּרִית״ בְּיִסּוּרִין, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֵלֶּה דִבְרֵי הַבְּרִית״, מַה ״בְּרִית״ הָאָמוּר בְּמֶלַח — מֶלַח מְמַתֶּקֶת אֶת הַבָּשָׂר, אַף ״בְּרִית״ הָאָמוּר בְּיִסּוּרִין — יִסּוּרִין מְמָרְקִין כׇּל עֲוֹנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם
The word covenant is used with regard to salt and with regard to afflictions. With regard to salt, as it is written: “The salt of the covenant should not be excluded”. And with regard to afflictions, as it is written: “These are the words of the covenant”. Just as, in the covenant mentioned with regard to salt, the salt sweetens the meat, so too in the covenant mentioned with regard to suffering, the suffering cleanses a person’s transgressions. –Berakhot

מִתְחַנְּנִים עֲלֵי מַיִם כַּעֲרָבִים עַל יִבְלֵי מַיִם
We supplicate for water, like willows upon watercourses –Hoshanot

דרש רבי אלעזר בן עזריה מכל חטאתיכם לפני ה׳ תטהרו — אמר רבי עקיבא: שנאמר וזרקתי עליכם מים טהורים וטהרתם
Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya taught: “From all your sins you shall be cleansed before the Lord” — Rabbi Akiva said: …As it is stated: “And I will sprinkle purifying water upon you, and you shall be purified” –Yoma