By COLlive reporter
Max Miller‘s father grew up Orthodox with Yiddish as his first language. But it wasn’t until Murray A. Miller passed away that Max became familiar with shuls and shtiebles.
The award-winning artist known for his abstract paintings chose to undertake the portrayal of the custom of saying Kaddish. The synagogue has been in his mind ever since.
“The Kaddish provided me with time to grieve and reflect on spiritual aspects of life and death,” said Miller, “and because of this I felt compelled to create images that captured my response to what I was experiencing.”
The experience was a source of constant surprise and comfort.
He relates that in the Chabad House in Burlington, Vermont, he was immediately welcomed and given a cup of tea, especially welcome since it was 20 degrees below zero at the time. And of course, Kiddush and lunch were offered.
His reaction is grateful. “In the past, this would have seemed to be a community from which I was worlds apart.” Now he is welcomed as a friend.
As an historic record and for personal reasons, he created a watercolor of each place he said Kaddish. The paintings will be on display at Yeshiva University Museum through August 16, 2009.
Accompanying the images is the artist’s commentary, based on his thoughts, feelings and experiences with those he met during this pursuit. While honoring the Jewish tradition of memorializing a parent, he came to learn a great deal about his father and their shared heritage.
The 50 vibrant watercolors, considered by the artist to be a coherent unit, are painted on paper. They depict the synagogues Miller visited, including Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar‘s The Shul in Bal Harbor, Florida; Rabbi Bentzion Korf‘s Chabad House of Mid-Miami Beach, and Rabbi Yitzchak Raskin‘s Chabad House in Vermont.
Yeshiva University Museum – Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, New York, NY; (212) 294 8330
Exhibition Sponsor: New York Foundation for the Arts
Sun, Tue, Wed, Thur 11 a.m.-5 p.m.;
$8 adults, $6 children, students & seniors
Until August 16, 2009 www.yumuseum.org
Stunning painting!
Is there a picture of Miller himself?