Orthodox Mural

Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Though Talmudists have decided that the Second Commandment puts no ban on portraying objects, parts of the body or things, orthodox synagogs have done without art for thousands of years. On view in Chicago this week were the first strictly orthodox Jewish synagog murals in the U. S. They were commissioned by Rabbi Elias Gamze of the Loop Orthodox Synagog which used to be in West Madison Street and attracted such visitors as Sophie Tucker, Al Jolson, Ben Bernie, Jack Pearl, Governor Henry Horner of Illinois. Last week workmen were cleaning up the Synagog's new $25,000 quarters--over a restaurant and next door to a cheap cinema-- for the opening of the high holy day, Rosh Hashana (Sept. 25). Already in place on two walls of the Synagog were ten large murals depicting the Ten Commandments. They were painted in true fresco by A. (for Alexander) Raymond Katz, 40, a Hungarian-born Jew who leads a Jewish art movement in the U. S. with the Hebrew alphabet as its central motif.

The alphabet, decided Artist Katz, should be the main theme of his synagog murals because some of its letters are also names for things. Artist Katz painted the Decalog as follows:

First, expressing the unity of God, shows Mt. Sinai and an abstract pattern leading up to the Hebrew letter Echod (unity).

Second, dodging the pronouncement against graven images, spells out: "Hear, Oh Israel, the Name of the Lord is One."

Third, recalling Jewish tradition that floods will follow when the Lord's name is taken in vain, introduces the earth, the letters for Yahveh, seven lines representing angels.

Fourth spells out Sabbath, shows a huge hand warning against breaking the holiness of that day (see cut).

Fifth admonishes, "Honor thy father and mother." A young tree represents youth, its 613 leaves (in the form of the letter Yod which means God) the 613 good deeds a pious Jew must perform. In the background are the first words of the Kaddish, a prayer spoken daily for eleven months and annually thereafter for one's deceased parents.

Sixth shows a pool of blood, a pigeon whose head is Yod; many hands partly blotting out the name of the Lord, partly blotting out a phylactery. This recalls a legend that the Lord is embarrassed by a murder.

Seventh simply presents the letters for "Thou shalt not commit adultery," and a huge, red, all-seeing eye.

Eighth, against stealing, shows upright trees, big and straight, stars, square solid rocks.

Ninth, against false witness, shows two houses. Smoke emanating from them spells the word for truth.

Tenth, against coveting, contrasts goodness (full bookshelves, lighted candles, an empty treasure chest) with badness (bookless shelves, lightless candles, a chest full of gold and jewels).

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