猶太人的節日傳統
Jewish Holiday Traditions
在文物開窗的本檔期展覽中，我們將給觀眾分三個批次呈現本館收藏的七件猶太教文物。它們共同反映出的，是猶太人雖然散居各地，並存在有地理上、派別上的差異，但是也共同擁有諸多作為“聖書子民”的信仰和文化傳統，並代代相傳，以求保留和延續猶太人的文化認同。
本次展出的三件文物分別是兩個銀質門柱經匣和一個逾越節餐盤。他們共同反映了散居世界各地的猶太人所重視的信仰習俗和節日傳統。猶太教的內部是多元化的，包含許多不同的運動，對宗教法律有不同的解釋，這反過來又影響了人們過節的方式。正統猶太教（其中一些人稱自己的傳統為妥拉猶太教）嚴格遵守《妥拉》（猶太聖經）和拉比文獻中的律法。
與伊斯蘭傳統相同，猶太日曆的一日之初是從日落時開始的，因此猶太教的節日也是從公曆日期的前一天傍晚開始，在一天後的日落時分結束。在猶太聖經中規定的各大節日和安息日，傳統上猶太教徒不得從事任何工作。對於遵守傳統的猶太人來說，這意味著他們也不能使用任何電器、汽車或聽任何音樂。
In this period of Artsy Window exhibition, we present seven artifacts of Jewish tradition from the Museum's collection in three batches. The artifacts for this time, collectively reflect the fact that the Jewish people, though live in diaspora with geographical and sect/trend difference, share many beliefs and cultural traditions as People of the Holy Books and pass them down from generation to generation in order to preserve the Jewish culture and identity.
The three artifacts on display are two silver Mezuzahs (doorpost boxes) and a Passover dinner plate. Together, they reflect the faith practices and holiday traditions that are valued by the Jewish Diaspora. Like many other religious traditions, Judaism is internally diverse, encompassing many different movements with different interpretations of religious law, which in turn influence the way in which the holiday is celebrated. Orthodox Judaism (some of whom refer to their tradition as Torah Judaism) strictly adheres to the laws of the Torah (Hebrew Bible) and rabbinic literature.
Similar to the Islamic tradition, the beginning of the day on the Jewish calendar begins at sunset time, and thus Jewish holidays begin in the prior evening of the Gregorian calendar date and end at sunset hour in the next day. Traditionally, Jews do not do any worldly work on the major holidays and Sabbaths set forth in the Hebrew Bible. For observant Jews, this means that they are also not to use any electrical appliances, cars, or listen to any music.
十五世紀抄本中描繪的逾越節晚餐場景
Jews in Passover dinner, 15th Century
Source: Wikipedia
逾越節
Passover
逾越節餐盤
Passover Plate
1950年代，金屬，耶路撒冷
1950s, Metal, Jerusalem
逾越節（Passover）又稱「自由節」或「春節」，是在尼散月（month of Nissan，希伯來曆七月）的 15-22 日慶祝的節日。這個節日是為了紀念以色列的族人在先知摩西的帶領下從古埃及法老的奴役中逃亡出來的事件。由於人們是突然出逃，甚至來不及讓作為口糧的麵包麵團發酵。這就是為什麼食用無酵餅（matzah）成為了是這個節日的象徵。在逾越節的八天時間裡，猶太人的家中不能有發酵或是發過酵的食物，尤其不能含有酵母或發酵過的烘焙食品。為了遵守這一誡命，人們會徹底清潔房屋（除酵），並將所有不符合逾越節猶太教規的食物清理出去。
逾越節從節日的第一晚開始，人們會全家團聚，以《哈加達書》（Haggadah）為基礎，全家老小一起重溫出埃及記的故事，然後聚在一起吃逾越節晚餐。逾越節通常是在家裡與親朋好友一起慶祝；在太陽剛剛下山的時候，人們也會去猶太教堂進行禱告活動。在逾越節餐盤上，會擺放象徵性的六種食物，包括苦草（Maror）、苦菜（Karpas）、泥醬（Haroset）、雞蛋（Beizta）、芹菜（Chazeret）和羊骨（Zeroah）。根據儀式的流程，要在晚餐期間喝四杯酒，並將某些食物浸入鹽水中，象徵猶太人遭奴役的淚水和苦澀。誦讀《哈加達》通常會持續至深夜，以傳統歌曲結束，包括Echad mi Yodea (誰知何謂一) 和Chad Gadya (一隻小山羊)。有些猶太人還會在逾越節期間的其他晚上舉行額外的逾越節晚餐。
逾越節餐盤上的希伯來文釋意：
- זְרוֹעַ - Zeroah （羊骨）
- כַּרְפָּס - Karpas（苦菜）
- מָרוֹר - Maror （苦草）
- חֲרוֹסֶת - Haroset（泥醬）
- חַזֶּרֶת - Hazeret（芹菜）
- בֵּיצָה - Beizta（雞蛋）
Passover is also known as the Festival of Matzah, the Festival of Freedom or the Spring Festival and it is celebrated on the 15th to 22nd of the month of Nissan (seventh month of the civil year in the Hebrew calendar). It commemorates the exodus of the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery. Since they fled unexpectedly, the Israelites did not have time to leaven their bread dough. This is why matzah, or unleavened bread, is a symbol of this holiday. During the eight days of Passover, it is forbidden to even possess leaven or leavened food, especially baked goods containing yeast or leaven. To comply with this commandment, homes are thoroughly cleaned and all food that is not kosher for Passover is either given away or sold.
Passover begins with the evening of the first seder, when the story of the exodus from Egypt (the Haggadah) is retold and families gather for a festive dinner. The seder is generally celebrated at home with friends and family; earlier in the evening, prayers are also held in the synagogue. On the seder plate, there are symbolic foods such as bitter herbs and Haroset, a sweet mixture of nuts and fruits. According to the rite, four cups of wine should be drunk and certain foods should be dipped into salt water. The reading of the Haggadah often ends late at night with traditional songs including Echad mi Yodea and Chad Gadya. Some Jews also celebrate additional seders on other evenings of Passover.
The Hebrew words on the Passover plate are translated as:
- זְרוֹעַ - Zeroah
- כַּרְפָּס - Karpas
- מָרוֹר - Maror
- חֲרוֹסֶת - Haroset
- חַזֶּרֶת - Hazeret
- בֵּיצָה - Beizta
猶太宗教藝術
Jewish Ceremonial Art
猶太宗教藝術，是指猶太人用於儀式目的的一系列物品。用特別精美的物品來完成禮儀被認為是尊崇神的戒律的一種值得稱讚的方式，因此在猶太文化中，存在著向工匠和藝術家委託製作儀式物品的悠久傳統。
在《米德拉士經註》（Midrash）中，有許多早期拉比對《希伯來聖經》的注釋都提到了用賞心悅目的物品來使儀式神聖化的內容。拉比伊斯瑪儀（Rabbi Ishmael）的經註Mekhilta對《聖經》中的一節經文有這樣的解釋：
這是我的神，我要榮耀祂（出埃及記 15：2）
「人類難道有能力為造物主增添榮耀嗎？這句話實際的意思是：我要在執行誡命的過程中榮耀上帝。我應該準備漂亮的住棚節植物、住棚，漂亮的流蘇飾物（tzitzit）和漂亮的經文匣（tefillin）。」還有其他的米德拉士經註作品（如 Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1.15）也提出了相似的觀點。《巴比倫塔木德經》（如 Bāḇā Qammā 9b）對這一觀點進行了擴展。後人將這一教導理解為在可能的情況下，有責任用精美的工藝來製作猶太人生活和崇拜中使用的器物。
Jewish ceremonial art, also known as Judaica, refers to an array of objects used by Jews for ritual purposes. Because enhancing a mitzvah by performing it with an especially beautiful object is considered a praiseworthy way of honoring God's commandments, Judaism has a long tradition of commissioning ritual objects from craftsmen and artists.
Multiple early rabbinic commentaries on the Hebrew Bible refer to sanctifying rituals with visually pleasing objects in the Midrash. Midrash Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael has this teaching on a biblical verse:
This is my God and I will glorify Him (Exodus 15:2)
Is it possible for a human being to add glory to his Creator? What this really means is: I shall glorify God in the way that I perform commandments. I shall prepare a beautiful lulav, beautiful sukkah, beautiful fringes (tzitzit), and beautiful tefillin. Other Midrash teachings (e.g. Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1.15) offer the same idea. This idea is expanded upon in the Babylonian Talmud (e.g. Bāḇā Qammā 9b). This teaching was understood by succeeding generations as a duty, when possible, to make beautiful items used in Jewish life and worship, both physical and textual.
門柱經匣
Mezuzahs (Doorpost Cases)
門柱經匣1、門柱經匣2
Mezuzah No.1 (Door-post prayer box), Mezuzah No. 2 (Door-post prayer box)
20世紀，銀，耶路撒冷
20th Century, Silver, Jerusalem
本次展示的兩個門柱經匣（mezuzah）來自耶路撒冷知名的貝札勒藝術學校（Bezalel Art School）。門柱經匣是一種裡面存有希伯來聖經中特定經文的匣子，猶太信徒會把它們掛在自家的門柱上。經匣內部的經文紙也被稱作klaf，是以黑色墨水書寫，由接受過專門書法訓練的抄寫人（sofer stam）抄寫在羊皮紙或是紙上，再小心捲好，放入到經文匣中，然後釘在猶太人家庭朝外的門柱上。在現代也有塑膠製作，有雙面膠在背後的簡易門柱經匣可以直接黏在門柱上。
門柱經匣裡抄寫的經文出自於希伯來聖經的《申命記6: 4-7》，這些經文也是猶太教的示瑪（Shema）祈禱文的內容之一。在其相應內容中，神對以色列（雅各）說道：
以色列啊，你要聽！神是獨一的主。
你要盡心、盡性、盡力愛你的神。
我今日所吩咐你的話都要記在心上，
也要殷勤教訓你的兒女。無論你坐在家裡，行在路上，躺下，起來，都要談論。
也要繫在手上為記號，戴在額上為經文；
又要寫在你房屋的門框上，並你的城門上。
在主流的拉比猶太教中，猶太人必須在家中的每個門口都放置一個mezuzah，但浴室和存放物品的壁櫥（不屬於生活空間）除外，以體現了人民服從神的旨意，遵守誡命。
在一般的猶太門柱經匣上，通常會寫有一個希伯來文單字 שדי 或是單字 ש，它的意涵是Shaddai，即神在猶太教中的名字之一，略可翻譯為中文的「大能的主」。另外，在後代的解讀中，猶太人也衍生出了一個說法，以為Shaddai一詞的子音代表Shomer Daltot Yisrael，即「以色列門戶的守衛者」的意涵。如果讀者想要更直觀地了解這種經文匣和經卷的製作和使用方式，也可以前往這個Youtube網址（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdqcIlTC7fg&ab_channel=Chabad.org）觀看今日的門柱經匣的製作和使用狀況。
The two silver mezuzahs came from the famous Bezalel Art School of Jerusalem. Mezuzah is a box containing specific verses from the Hebrew Bible that Jewish believers hung on the doorposts of their homes. The paper inside the mezuzah, also known as a klaf, is written in black ink on parchment or paper by a sofer stam, a scribe trained in calligraphy, then carefully rolled, placed in the mezuzah, and nailed to the doorposts of Jewish homes facing outward. In modern times, they are also mezuzahs made of plastic, and can be sticked directly to the doorpost.
The verses copied in the cases are from the Book of Deuteronomy in the Hebrew Bible, which is also part of the Shema prayer in Judaism. The words God said to Israel quoted as:
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
In mainstream Rabbinic Judaism, Jews are required to place a mezuzah at every door in their homes, with the exception of bathrooms and closets for storage (which are not part of the living space), in order to embody the people's obedience to God's will and observance of the commandments.
On a typical mezuzah, there is usually a Hebrew word שדי or the single letter ש, which means Shaddai, one of God's names in Judaism, and which can be slightly translated into Chinese as "the Mighty Lord". Alternatively, in later interpretations, the Jews have derived the idea that the sub-vowel of the word Shaddai stands for Shomer Daltot Yisrael, which means "Guardian of the doors of Israel". Visitors can go to this Youtube link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdqcIlTC7fg&ab_channel=Chabad.org) to see how today's mezuzah are made and used.
