Odem, 2001

Jewish Museum Berlin, Germany

Alongside the Tora the Talmud is the most important religious script in Judaism. The Talmud, like the Tora, did not come into being as a single work but rather developed over a period of centuries.

The interactive installation, as part of the Jewish Museum’s permanent exhibition, reveals how the Talmud has evolved continuously over the years. The transition from the oral passing on of the teachings to their written enshrinement serves as metaphor for the structure of the installation.

In the installation, a sensor registers the breath of the visitor wafting over the open book and its initially empty pages. Writing gradually appears, page by page. Short explanations provide an insight into the significance of the Talmud and the passage of time that marked its emergence.