A mysterious artist, Issai Kulvianski

'My parents shtetl'

The information about the work and life of Issai Kulvianski is not easy to find. After a couple of research and documentation, I still cannot say that I know 35% of his story. 

He appears under different names: either Izaijas Kulvianski or Isaja Kulwianski. He was born in Jonova, Lithuania, in 1892. He studied first sculpture at the Vilnius Art School and later at Berlin, in 1912, at the Berlin Academy of Art. Later, he went to Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, where he got in touch and eventually was influenced by Soutine and Chagall. Before the WWI, when he served in the Russian Army, he was member of the semi-anarchist group in Berlin 'Novembergruppe', together with, among others, El Lissitzky. 

In 1933, he moved to the then Palestine, where for around 17 years was a teacher of arts at a school he created. One of his paintings of that time of the Tel Aviv beaches  continue to be an appreciated presence in the auction houses. The next stage of his life was of a permanent travel, especially in Europe. His stops included Nurenberg, Oudeuil/Oise, Val de Mercy/Yonne before establishing in London, where he spent the rest of his life.
His works are strongly influenced by the neo-realism, one of his inspiration being the German painter Lovis Corinth.
Many of his works can be found either in different auction houses in Europe or in museums and galleries. 

Post-hagim blues and plans for the new year

Every time the end of September is a time of re-adaptation and effort to get back on a kind of normal track. The time between Rosh Hashana and Simcha Torah is full of spiritual developments, new cooking and a lot of introspection. Returning back to a certain 'normality' is not always a welcomed development and it is not easy to change the daily life pace. 

I ended the last year on a very tired yet optimistic note, with a lot of projects in the air, but nothing clear to talk about. Without panic or hurry, I continued with my other daily tasks, trying to find the right moment and inspiration to move forward with more quality and coherent projects, at least for the next months.

Somehow, my travels helped me to find the words to describe what I will start doing soon on the blog:

- I will continue to focus on book reviews on Jewish topics - literature, history, specifically. Over the last months, a lot of notes were accumulated and I should start catching up with past readings till I still have the ideas fresh in my mind.

- Fighting the lack of action on the blog, I try to force myself to be around at least once the week. This occasion will be a little bit of discussion about the weekly parasha, with some personal insights and observations. 

- Another big project that I would love iy''H to put into words soon is about 'Jewish Heritage'. The world is full of traces of Jewish history and every fragment matters. As soon as I can, I will try to bring back histories with pictures and various local insights.

- As usually, politics will be addressed only if the events are so important that cannot be neglected. 

This is all for now! A lot of work ahead that will help me to get rid of the post-hagim blues.

Before Yom Kippur

I am afraid of fasting. Not because of I am a glutton, or maybe I am, but rather because without a proper hydration, I automatically develop terrible headaches. And what can be worse than a headache? This is what usually happens in the middle and after almost every fast, I went through. Invariably, Tisha B'Av is one of the most terrible experience in that respect. I go to sleep after I listen a shiur, and for hours later I feel like seasick. 

All being said, I often welcome Yom Kippur with a deep feeling of fear. I usually start the New Year with a lot of hope and optimism but till Hoshana Rabah I cannot do anything coherently. The work and travel projects are floating in the air, all my efforts to do something serious are failing and even when it comes to people I am sent back into my shell. Till the end of the hagim, there it is nothing to do for the future, I am like stacked into the present. I need to rest, make more plans and analyse what happened in the last months.

Psychologically speaking, the beginning of the New Year is the best time to take decisions, make changes and upgrade the level of observance and learning. But without the day days leading to Yom Kippur, the deep change may be in jeopardy. How can one start when the hard stones of the past aveiros are taking him or her back? How can we start anew or almost anew with an old toxic perspective? The key is teshuva and more introspection and Yom Kippur is the climax of the change. 

But back to my first statement of being afraid of fasting, how can I really 'enjoy' the spirituality when I am hardly able to breath or think in general. When my head is no better than a 5-day old salad? 

A couple of years ago, I was told about spending Yom Kippur with a group of hasidim, that after one nigh of reading tehillim and another couple of hours of davening, were so happy and full of life when the moment of blowing the shofar arrived. At that moment, was difficult for me to envisage that genuine feeling.  

Now, I am longing for happiness on Yom Kippur. For what have been done and for what I am ready to deal with. For the mitzvot I want to do every day - at least once, if possible and for all the 'slichot' I have to say to those I misunderstood or bothered. I want to change something and it is the right time to do it. Trying to do anything else till Sunday at least failed, so I need to get the best of the time and focus on what really matters this time of the year.
It's all for the best!

'Come to Israel...'

"Come to Israel, come and see the splendor of a desirable land, the splendor of the Carmel and of the Sharno, the splendor of the pleasant and beautiful azure skies, the magnificience of the clear, pure, and temperate air that reigns in its majesty and glory, even in Tevet. Delight and rejoice in this desirable, fair and pleasing land. A land of life, a land whose air is the wellspring of the spirit. How beautiful and graceful she is!

Come to Israel, come and see 'and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass' (Isaiah 66:14). Come and see how our beloved and precious nation like an eagle renews its youth, how she begins to stretch her bones, aching and shattered from wandering and bitter exile; some and see how she accustoms herself to standing erect as a date palm. Come and feel how our national invigorates its spirit by remembering its strength and majesty, by remembering its grandeur and glory at every turn. Come and delight in memories better than good wine, that exalt the soul and increase wisdom, memories of kings and princes, memories of heroes and prophets, memories of glory and strength, greatness and majesty. Come to the Land of Israel - here you will behold the vision of all this, here you will know that you are alive, living a life worthy of the name, in the land of life".

from Rav A.Y.Kook, Selected Letters, translated and annotated by Tzvi Feldman, Ma'aliot Publications of Yeshiva Birkat Moshe, Ma'aleh Adumim, Israel, 1976, pp. 239-240

The end of 5773. The new beginnings

There are only a couple of hours left from 5773. The new beginnings are always exciting, especially for me, but till then, I still need to finish arranging some plates and to read my Tehillim portion for today. 

I can't imagine how far I was one year ago and how many accomplishment I did in the last months: a lot of learning and reading, a lot of mitzvot, thanks to the wonderful people I have around me, that asked me to be part of their endeavours. I had the chance to understand a lot about shalom, need to help those in need and stop being judgemental. I offered myself to help with an open heart, as my mother z''l used to do. 

A special rav said recently that when the grandchildren keep Yiddishkeit, their grandparents were deeply committed Yidden. I do not have any memories of my grandparents and my parents did not have too much time to know their parents either, but somehow, the pride of being what we are and the fight for making this world a better place for us, without being pushed to assimilate helped me to go beyond survival. Thinking about the tragic fate of my grandparents keeps the flame burning and determined my decision for a committed Yiddishe life. 

I've read that Ramhal said that before Moshiach will come, there will be some terrible times when the Jews will get away from belief, but will return individually, each and every one of them fully convinced about their commitment. Those of us who decided to return in humility and have the chutzpah of a fully observant life, against all odds and ironies can be an example that everything is possible when your will is strong. It also shows that it is important to keep from being judgemental, and appreciate the beautiful soul of every Yid who is back. All of us, regardless of the years spend in the yeshiva, we have so much to learn from each other and from the wise people before us. 

I will daven for a good year, for more mitzvos and for more learning. As for my blogging life, after one year of intense learning and another one of intense practising, I hope that I reached the right balance for being able to spend more sharing my thoughts and experiences. I also prepare a project aimed to focus on the Jewish historical heritage iy''H and to continue exploring the Jewish literature of the diaspora and from Israel. I also hope that in the next months to have more posts in Hebrew and to expand my learning and knowledge to Hebrew and Yiddish literature. 

May it be a new and happy year for everyone, healthy and peaceful, with enough challenges that may help us to see what it really matters in life!

Shana tova!

London stories

Two Orthodox Jews - looking so - are lost somewhere in the South of London. No, they do not want to be in the news or to share any message of peace. They were simply lost while looking for a precious medicine for someone sick. And they needed directions. They were not naive either, as they saw how some men spit after seeing them. Maybe people cope difficulty with the heat, isn't it?

Anyway, finally they saw someone and went to ask directions. A Muslim looking lady. She looked afraid but they believed that maybe she did not understand what they want. And when they saw she turned her back, thought that maybe they need to repeat their question. But once she saw the 2 Orthodox Jews going to her, she started to run. Run, exactly. Running from the 2 who were mesmerized. 

But they are smart and wise and they are sorry for the lady, because she was so much brainwashed that she thought that the two lost Orthodox Jews were about to do something bad to her. Getting lost is a relative disposition.

Dealing with the 9 Days

My big challenges of going through the 9 Days when living in galut is to keep yourself sober in a sea of futility. There it is not always the society's fault for such an entertaining and easy view of life. This time of the year is usually the children's vacation time and at least till a certain age, it is quite difficult to explain them why they should not listen to music or make fun or play loudly in the garden. Or not going to the swimming pool. Especially when you don't have a reliable Jewish camp around, the pressure is even harder, because you are almost left alone to explain to them why 'we' are not like 'them'. 

Somehow, it has to do not always with the 9 Days, but with many of our attitudes to life in general. On Friday evening, when I go back from a communal Kabbalah Shabbat evening, we pass through a loudly disco with drunk teenagers with pink and blue heads waiting in line in the front of one of the most famous club in town. Can you think about the moment when your kids will grow up and will look at such behaviors not only with curiosity but with envy as well? One may say that the education offered by the parents will prevent them by doing so. But the parents cannot watch the kids' thoughts and there it is always a small risk. 

Back to my 9 Days dilemma, there it is always something distracting us, especially during the summer. In my thoughts, I get ready spiritually, thinking and reading about the Temple and trying to have a small table talk, but I cannot avoid a certain feeling of happiness and accomplishment when we have a new good meal, or when we read a good book or when we meet old friends - this is summer and this is what happened usually. Plus, having a work that deals with travel, it involves going in new places and sometimes really enjoying the feeling of being on the road. Or, what can I do when a client that delayed a payment for over a month finally decided to fulfil its obligations? Keep some money for tzedaka and be grateful, for instance. 

Maybe the right feeling is to remember always that it is not enough and we still have bigger and more important to do. And for those living in galut, that we should end up being satisfied with what we have, because we deserve something more. Watching to keep a certain modesty of thoughts that will prevent the blindness of self-sufficiency. I avoid to call it a tragic condition.