An enriching day trip for Beth El congregants and friends took place last month when the group travelled to the North Carolina Museum of Art to experience the exhibit, The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt. The exhibition, which was widely acclaimed in New York, will travel next to Boston. It is open through March 8 at NCMA in Raliegh, N.C.
Spearheaded by Clay Barr, the participants enjoyed a curator-led tour of the exhibition, followed by lunch at the museum’s restaurant. After lunch, the group toured the newly installed Judaica Gallery, guided by Sean Burrus, North Carolina Museum of Art’s curator of Judaica.
The Book of Esther exhibition demonstrates how the story of Queen Esther was depicted in art and popular culture, expressing the ideas of political and religious freedom in the age of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-69).
NCMA’s material for the exhibit says, “In the 1600s and beyond, the Book of Esther was a key source of inspiration for diverse communities in Holland, both Jewish and Christian. For immigrant Jewish communities living with new freedom in more tolerant Amsterdam, celebrating Purim became a meaningful expression of Jewish culture.”
In addition to paintings, the exhibit contains a variety of artifacts including an Esther Scroll, a silver Purim collection cup, and a Tebah Cover, among other items.
“It was such a great opportunity to see a world class exhibition,” says Barr. “The enthusiasm from all in attendance was a credit not only to the quality of the exhibit, but also to the educational input of the curators who led the tour.”
The trip was part of Congregation Beth El’s initiative with the arts, which has also included docent led tours at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk.