Art - Part 11: Directives to Artists

00:01 This is Behemshech in continuation to the earlier installment where we cited the Rebbe Sicha on the 20th of Cheshvan Tov Shin Dalet Mem, late 1983, regarding the visual impression on young children and infants. We now continue with installment number 11, citing from an additional Sicha which the Rebbe gave on the 16th of Adar Tov Shin Mem Zayin, 1987. In addition, we will also cite the following. One, a response in which the Rebbe specified how to draw images for children. Number two, the Rebbe's positive reaction to a drawing made by an artist, a famous artist, Rav Zalman Kleiman. And number three, a response to the artist, Rabbi Hendel Lieberman, regarding his art exhibition in Tov Shin Lamed Beis, 1972. We'll begin with the Sicha in Tov Shin Mem Zayin, as it's translated here in English. For the same reason, this is in the middle of the Sicha, the Rebbe says, this holiness reaches all Yidden equally, even a newborn child. And the Rebbe continues, this is the reason for the recent campaign to ensure that a shir ha'malas be hung in the room of every baby and of the mother who has recently given birth. This was a Sicha that the Rebbe gave on Yutas Kislev earlier in the year Tov Shin Mem Zayin, late 1986. As we have discussed on other occasions, this has the dual function of protecting the health of the mother and child, as well as in ensuring that the child is surrounded with holiness. This is also the reason for a

02:12 minhag Yisrael that children be given only toys made in the form of kosher animals, singing them to sleep with songs of holy content, such as Teydah is the best Escheyda, and having children kiss the mezuzah before going to sleep at night. The Teydah has always stressed how the environment affects even the youngest child. In recent generations, even non-Jewish doctors have agreed with this. The profound effect on the child's development is also the reason for recent stress on placing holy Svarim in the child's room. Obviously, the intention was not just to place one book there as a way of fulfilling an obligation. The book should be of major importance in the room, with a minimum of at least a Chumash, a Siddur, and a Haggadah. It is advisable to add a Tehillim either by itself or bound together with a Siddur. The child should have his own charity box, Pushka, as we have mentioned on many occasions. This is all part of the parents' awesome responsibility for the child's welfare, both physical and spiritual. Although being a parent involves a great deal of effort, when one thinks of how the essence of Hashem dwells within the child's heart, one feels lucky to have been given such a job. And now we're going to discuss the instructions that the Rebbe specified how to draw images for children. This was addressed in the year Tov Shin Dalet Mem, 1984, to the editors of the newspaper Mashiach Times, which was published by Tzivas Hashem in New York. We'll read

04:23 only the translation of this response. The Rebbe begins, the newspaper is primarily for children and very young children, and therefore experienced educators should decide in all the above, which is in regards to the newspaper that is being published for children. In general, the Rebbe continues, there should not appear any images of unkosher animals. Another point, it is not worthwhile that people should be depicted in images not as it is in reality. For example, very fat, extraordinarily, or a big nose, etc. Although in comics it is generally used, exclusively used, the Rebbe says in his opinion this is a mistake in education, a great mistake, because the simpler it is made and the more normal it is made in regards to children is more qualitative. And the Rebbe continues in his opinion also for adults. And the Rebbe concludes with the words, that this is not exactly the place, the Rebbe says, to go into more additional details. And now we go on to the letter that the Rebbe wrote to the artist, Rabbi Zalman Kleinman. It was in 1957, and in the newspaper called Igeres LaGela, A Letter to Exile, published in English, there was an article in regards to the life of, in Kfar Chabad, in Eretz Yisrael, and it was written by the, uh, person who lived in Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Gershon Segal. In the article, there were also images, drawings from the Hasidic artist who was then a bachar. It was before he got married, Rabbi Zalman Kleinman. This article reached the

06:54 Rebbe, and the Rebbe wrote a special letter to this young artist. And the Rebbe says, "I just received the article which made on me an impression exclusively because of the manner, the format these drawings were made." And the Rebbe writes in Yiddish, "On kunstn," without any tricks, without any tactics, and even without artistic tactics, or kunstn. And it would be appropriate that in such a format, he should also draw a full album of Kfar Chabad, and not only as it is in the present, but also as it was in the early stages when Hasidim settled in Kfar Chabad in the late 1940s, in order that this album will also show how the Kfar has developed. And this will also be a benefit for the image of Kfar Chabad in the present, since it is of hope that very soon it'll develop even more yet. And if we will have a whole collection of these drawings in a successful way, we can take in consideration of publishing it in print, either as an album that contains all the pictures as postcards or as separate postcards. And the main thing is that these images should appear in a very simplistic way as it is in reality, and he should not be impressed or influenced if someone will tell him that it's more appropriate for certain drawings a photo, and there is no need for drawing, as we see also in factual life the difference between a photo or a drawing of an artist, even if it is

09:15 made in the very professional way which is closest to reality. And the Rebbe adds that it is self-understood that if there are any expenses involved in bringing this down in a practical sense, there is a special fund that will compensate it, taking also in consideration the salary for this whole work. And I'm waiting for your answer with good news. And the Rebbe concludes, "There's no need to mention that my intention is not only in regards to the houses of Kfar Chabad, but also in regards to the life of Kfar Chabad, the spiritual life, ha-chayim ha-ruchnim she-b'ruchnius, should be expressed in these drawings till chayim gashmim she-b'gashmiyus, including also the life in the physical state in Kfar Chabad." We will, im yirtzeh Hashem, continue in the next installment.