‘The Handwriting on the Wall’
We are going to a slightly different format this week. Immediately below are the materials for this week’s Torah Study which includes an actual picture of a wall of the Barnes Museum in order to better demonstrate the idea of placing portraits and widgets side by side with an eye towards seeing what then emerges, or better, how one possibly influences the other.
The material I have included from the Book of Daniel is intended to show us how an earlier idea, perhaps one that emanates from the story of Noah, is now able to find its way (all the way) to the gates of Lot’s city. This is no longer simply placing a story side by side and trying to discern what then emerges. Instead the authors of Daniel are using the earlier narratives as a backdrop to the overall picture or in this case, the canvas as it now appears. Some even consider this as a form of artistic Pentimento, a practice or even a concept which we will now have a better look at as we continue our examination of Noah, Lot and Daniel.
Here you might even be able to see that the author of Daniel is well aware of Lot and his predicament. He chooses not to cover it up, but instead to add extra paint to the canvas, which in turn will suit Daniel’s purpose, or at least the purposes of the author and his perception of the Jewish people in their Exile at that time (and perhaps even now).
Please open the link below to have a ‘behind the scenes look’ at the materials before us, so to speak.
