Like many of you, I am very excited about this month’s reopening of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright Knox). Inside we will finally be able to witness hundreds of pieces of artwork that had previously been in storage for decades. This multimillion-dollar project will transform our cultural scene in Western New York, and hopefully attract millions of visitors to the area.
One way to think about art is the human response to the beauty that surrounds us in the natural world. Here is how the AKG website describes a piece by Firelei Báez debuting this coming week: “Chorus of the Deep is a monumental glass tile mosaic that invites viewers to immerse themselves in an oceanic world. Up close, the image seems to be an abstract symphony of color and light. From a distance, abstraction comes into focus to reveal swimming bodies and sea flora.” Isn’t it amazing how just the description alone can transport us into the depths of the sea.
This week’s Torah portion begins with a beautiful description of the ancient menorah. I was struck by the craftsmanship involved and how it is compared to a flower, a Pircha. Nachmanides, the 12th Century rabbinic leader, wrote that the candelabra should open like almond blossoms. This is our ancestors’ attempt to capture nature. And, while we only have the descriptions and not the artifacts themselves, we can picture the beauty of this primary Jewish ritual item. Whether at the AKG or in the words of our ancient tradition, the amazing beauty of this incredible world can come to life.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex