JEWISH ART LAB 2019
Title of Work: Zechariah's Tomb
Medium: Archival Pigment Print
Conundrum
The Tomb of Benei Hezir, which is also called
Zechariah's Tomb, bears an epithet that states:
"This is the tomb and the stele/memorial
(nefesh) of Eleazar."
Nefesh. Funerary monument. Marker on tomb.
Pyramid-capped obelisk. Standing stone. Stele.
"because I built you a tomb (nefesh) and
a memorial, be at peace in Jerusalem."
Nefesh. Soul. Ruach. Neshamah. Breath. Soul.
Respiration. Inner animating element of life.
"....and Hashem formed the man of dust
from the earth and he breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life (nishmat hayim);
man became a living being (nefesh haya)."
The question remains: What is the connection
between the architectural edifice called nefesh
and the concept of soul?