The title of the exhibition, Not In Heaven, is derived from a dramatic moment in the Talmud: the story of the Oven of Akhnai. During the incident, the acting head of the Sanhedrin puts a decisive end to a debate that pits Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, whose opinion is supported by miraculous occurrences, against the majority of sages. “The law does not reside in Heaven,” declares the head of the Sanhedrin. The Torah has already been revealed; it is humanity that must determine truth and uncover meaning.

Being asked to give my personal interpretation to this sugiya (topic / story) has forced me, a non religious jew, to dive into the Talmud and the complexity of the story and let this unusual starting point be a trigger for a creative discussion both with the Talmud and with our everyday reality.

I simplified the very rich, elaborate and complex story with it’s many meanings to the one the most intriguing for me - a spiral story with Man in the center - the importance and power of humanity, of people over god and of our relationships with each other.

the work is a sort of balance game - balancing a variety of structures on small brass figurines