TORAH

The Arts

Chanukah, and the World to Come,The fine arts awaken within us a transcendent feeling. So why is creative expression not given greater emphasis in Jewish observance? An examination of Greek culture, which venerated beauty above all —and specifically, the Greeks’ defilement of the Temple — may lead us to the answer.

1 min read December 8, 2015

The fine arts in all their varied expressions — music painting architecture drama literature poetry and beyond — impact us in profound ways. They stir within us deep-seated emotions that may be otherwise inaccessible and produce inspiration awe and a sense of wonder. People invest a great deal of time effort and money to satisfy their aesthetic impulse and enable them to experience beauty in their lives. But why? What are we experiencing when we sense beauty? And primarily what value do the arts play in Torah Judaism? A more nuanced understanding of the Chanukah miracle can shed some light on these questions.

To read the rest of this story please buy this issue of Mishpacha or sign up for a weekly subscription