A Controversial Exhibit in Berlin Inspires Shliach

The Background

The exhibit is at the Berlin’s Jewish Museum entitled, “The Whole Truth … Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Jews …” it has an installation that has been controversial to say the least. This particular part of the exhibit, commonly referred to as ‘Jew in a Box,’ features a Jewish man or woman sitting in an open glass box. Visitors can ask questions and the person in the box will answer based upon their experience.

This display has drawn outrage from around the globe. Jewish organizations and others rose up to condemn the exhibit, which the media likened to boxcars that transported Jews to the gas chambers and the glass cage that confined Adolph Eichmann during his genocide trial in Jerusalem.

Was this justified? Not quite sure, for if you look carefully, the Plexiglas enclosure is wide open in the front. You can clearly detect a foot protruding outside the perimeter of the enclosure.

The Traveling Exhibit on Long Island & Beyond

Rabbi Perl has responded by creating his own special ‘message in a box’, to portray some of the deepest aspects of Judaism. The cube box measures 8 ½” wide x 15” high x 9 ½” long and comes complete with a Harvey Magila Dancing Rabbi.

The rabbi takes the show on the road. Providing a fascinating ‘message in the box’ guided by inspiring insights culled from the Talmud, Kabbalah, Shaar HaYichud V’Emunah, many Maamorim & good humor!

“We all really live in a box…” explains Rabbi Perl, “just look around the room you are in…it has 6 sides, the four directions a ceiling and a floor”. “Just as a room provides a space for physical protection and safety, on a deeper conceptual level, we all have our six directions in life.

We create for our self, an enclosed spiritual space, a sanctuary of peace, when we consciously keep in mind, that the six directions in our own inner world, are protected by our own awareness of the six corresponding perpetual mitzvot.”

What are the six perpetual mitzvot? 1) To believe in the existence and providence of G‑d: 2) Not to believe that any other gods exist; 3) To believe in His absolute Oneness; 4) To love G-d; 5) To be in awe of G-d; 6) To shield one’s mind from negative thoughts.

While most divine commandments that are bound by time and location, these are six ‘mitzvot’ that stand out as being constant for all, at all times and places!