Recently an angel said to me: “what is this that you are always making pictures? What kind of occupation is this for a Jew? All day long fantasy after fantasy?”
I replied:”Sometimes a person’s situation feels empty and he doesn’t see much hope at all. So he says to himself: at least I can imagine a situation where things are much better, where everything works out well. And through that I encourage myself and bring hope into my world. Afterwards things usually work out well also in reality. Is it not a good thing to make up hopeful pictures for myself?”
“Hope in vain imagination?!’
“The despair is actually the illusion. The hope is connecting to the truth. As is written:
כי מי גוי גדול אשר לו א-קים קרובים אליו כהוי’ א-קינו בכל קראנו אליו –דברים ד’:ז
The angel didn’t come back and I was left alone with my future and my hope.
featured image:
ברוך פודה ומציל, ברוך שמו
(מתפילת ברוך שאמר)
Blessed is He Who Redeems and Rescues, Blessed is His Name
(From the Morning Prayers)
Oil on canvas ציור שמן על קנבס
תשע”ג
50 cm. x 70 cm.