Yom Kippur

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This evening is Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, it is the holiest day of the year in Judaism and completes the annual period known as the High Holy Days that commences with Rosh Hashanah. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a day-long fast and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services.

Robert Hughes the Australian-born art critic, wrote of Rembrandt, ‘Rembrandt often used Jewish models, which is hardly surprising given that he illustrated so many Biblical scenes. Rembrandt was not anti-semitic, and he made no effort to dissimulate the obvious fact that the Old Testament heroes, apostles and prophets he was so often called upon to paint were Jewish. Moreover, since it is fairly clear from his work that he regarded the artist as an outsider, one may fairly suppose that the Jew-as-outsider in the otherwise solidly Christian communities of Leiden and Amsterdam would have engaged his sympathy as well.’’

Jews in the synagogue. Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669). Etching, drypoint, black carbon ink on laid paper, height, plate, 72 mm, width, plate, 130 mm; height, sheet, 77 mm, width, sheet, 137 mm, 1648.

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