Four Microperformances (Avodah Zarah), 2022
First episode in micro-performances series "Open Code", part of the Avodah Zarah | Open Code show by Anushik in Schechter Gallery, Tel-Aviv, 2022 Curator: Bar Yerushalmi Photo: Tomer Fruchter
Isaac became blind in his old age and decided to bestow the blessing of the firstborn upon Esau. Isaac therefore sent Esau out to the fields to trap and cook a piece of game for him, so that he could eat it and bless Esau before he died. Rebecca overheard this conversation and realized that Isaac's blessings should go to Jacob, since she was told before the twins' birth that the older son would serve the younger. She therefore ordered Jacob to bring her two goats from the flock, which she cooked in the way Isaac loved, and had him bring them to his father in place of Esau. When Jacob protested that his father would recognize the deception and curse him as soon as he felt him, since Esau was hairy and Jacob smooth-skinned, Rebecca said that the curse would be on her instead. Before she sent Jacob to his father, she dressed him in Esau's garments and laid goatskins on his arms and neck to simulate hairy skin.
Second episode in micro-performances series "Open Code", part of the Avodah Zarah | Open Code show by Anushik in Schechter Gallery, Tel-Aviv, 2022 Curator: Bar Yerushalmi Photo: Tomer Fruchter
After Joseph's birth, Jacob decided to return to the land of Canaan with his family. Fearing that Laban (Rachels father) would deter him, he fled with his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and twelve children without informing his father-in-law. Laban pursued him and accused him of stealing his idols. Indeed, Rachel had taken her father's idols, hidden them inside her camel's seat cushion, and sat upon them. Laban had neglected to give his daughters their inheritance. Not knowing that the idols were in his wife's possession, Jacob pronounced a curse on whoever had them: "With whoever you will find your gods, he will not live". Laban proceeded to search the tents of Jacob and his wives, but when he came to Rachel's tent, she told her father, "Let not my lord be angered that I cannot rise up before you, for the way of women is upon me". Laban left her alone, and the idols were not discovered.
Third episode in micro-performances series "Open Code", part of the Avodah Zarah | Open Code show by Anushik in Schechter Gallery, Tel-Aviv, 2022 Curator: Bar Yerushalmi Photo: Tomer Fruchter
In Genesis, Tamar is first described as marrying Judah's eldest son, Er. Because of his wickedness, Er was killed by God.By way of a levirate union, Judah asked his second son, Onan, to provide offspring for Tamar so that the family line might continue. This could have substantial economic repercussions, with any son born deemed the heir of the deceased Er, and able to claim the firstborn's double share of inheritance. However, if Er was childless, Onan would inherit as the oldest surviving son. Onan performed coitus interruptus. His action was deemed wicked by God and so, like his older brother, God killed him. At this point, Judah is portrayed as viewing Tamar to be cursed and therefore as being reluctant to give her his remaining and youngest son Shelah. Rather, he tells Tamar to wait for Shelah. However, even after Shelah has grown up, Judah still does not give Tamar to him in marriage. After Shelah had grown up, Judah became a widower. Upon hearing this news, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and immediately went to Timnath which was en route to Judah's destination. Upon arriving at a place near Timnath, where two roads met, Judah saw the woman but did not recognize her as Tamar because of the veil she wore over her face. Thinking she was a prostitute, he requested her services. Tamar's plan was to become pregnant by this ruse so that she might bear a child in Judah's line, since Judah had not given her to his son Shelah. So she played the part of a prostitute and struck a bargain with Judah for a goat, secured by his staff, seal, and cord. When Judah was able to have a goat sent to Timnath, in order to collect his staff and seal, the woman was nowhere to be found and no one knew of any prostitute in Timnath. Three months later, Tamar was accused of prostitution on account of her pregnancy. Upon hearing this news, Judah ordered that she be burned to death. Tamar sent the staff, seal, and cord to Judah with a message declaring that the owner of these items was the man who had made her pregnant. Upon recognizing these items as his security, Judah released Tamar from her sentence. Tamar, having thus secured her place in the family as well as Judah's posterity, gave birth to twins, Perez and Zerah. Their birth is reminiscent of the birth of Rebekah's twin sons. The midwife marks Zerah's hand with a scarlet cord when he emerges first from the womb, though Perez is born first. Perez is identified in the Book of Ruth as the ancestor of King David. The Genesis narrative also makes a note that Judah did not have further sexual relations with Tamar.
Forth episode in micro-performances series "Open Code", part of the Avodah Zarah | Open Code show by Anushik in Schechter Gallery, Tel-Aviv, 2022 Curator: Bar Yerushalmi Photo: Tomer Fruchter
Michal's story is recorded in the first Book of Samuel, where it is said that Michal loved David. The narrative does not indicate whether this is reciprocated. After his success in battle against the Philistine giant Goliath, Merab was given in marriage to Adriel. In the biblical narrative, Michal chooses the welfare of David over the wishes of her father. When Saul's messengers search for David in order to kill him, Michal sends them away while pretending he was ill and laid up in bed. She lets David down through a window and hides teraphim in his bed as a ruse. After Michal was returned to David, she criticised him for dancing in an undignified manner, as he brought the Ark of the Covenant to the newly captured Jerusalem in a religious procession. For this she is punished, according to Samuel, with not having children till the day she dies.