Sunday, April 24, 2016

From the Chair (Made Ready)

From the Chair (Made Ready), 1979 
Wooden chair (Originated from a synagogue), 22x in bronze casted mouses, 62 cm.


But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. (King James Bible, 1 Samuel 5: 6)

And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. (King James Bible, 1 Samuel 6: 17-18)

Emerods (emeroids) Hemorrhoids; tumors; raised up; swellings, protuberances
The word Emerods means OPHeL or TeChOR in Hebrew



Please note: כיסא אליהו Elijah’s Chair
A chair is prepared and a cup of wine poured for Elijah at every Pesach (Passover) celebration. He is also believed to be present at every Brit Milah (circumcision) ceremony, and a special chair – Elijah’s chair – for his invisible presence is placed next to that of the Sandak (godfather) holding the male baby. 

This particular belief may be due to Elijah’s angelic status (having ascended to heaven) and the prophet Malachi’s reference to him as the “angel of the covenant”. 
Consequently one must not forget Elijah’s eschatological role in Jewish tradition, namely, his role of precursor of the Messiah, for he is the messenger announcing his advent. 


A late-18th century’s Elijah’s Chair in the niche in the Carpentras synagogue, France; “this is the chair for Elijah, blessed be his memory”
Synagogue de Cavaillon Rue Hebraique, 84300 Cavaillon, France






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