Shabbat Shalom

What is it like to spend twenty-four hours completely disconnected from mobile phones and computers? Even before the term digital detox was coined, there were people who had been practising disconnection for millennia.

The new MEIS exhibition, curated by Amedeo Spagnoletto, takes you on a journey through Shabbat, the weekly day of rest in the Jewish tradition.

Shabbat is a ritual that has been shaping identity and has left a profound mark on Western culture: on this day, commitments and frenzy of weekdays are set aside to make way for spirituality, those you love and enjoy being together.

Through ancient and contemporary artefacts, stories and delicious recipes, the exhibition blossoms into a wealth of fascinating facts, inviting you to step into a different time, where slowing down becomes a way to rediscover what truly matters.

The exhibition invites visitors to experience the Jewish Sabbath through its main stages, offering a dual perspective: that of an ancient ritual practised for centuries, and that of its encounter with modernity. Objects, personal accounts, video footage, interactive activities, ceremonial art and contemporary artworks are brought together to create a surprising result.

Highlights include silver candlesticks reinterpreted by designer David Palterer; “Le vibrazioni del settimo giorno”, a masterpiece created specifically for MEIS by Padua-born artist Tobia Ravà; and “Echet Hayil. Chant intemporel dédié à la femme”, a work of art by French architect Alyson Feit.

The preparations for the Sabbath are illustrated through the traditional clothing associated with different Jewish traditions (Italian, Ashkenazi and Sephardic), as well as recipes and tableware passed down through Jewish families. The exhibition also offers an in-depth look at Jewish life in Ferrara through ceremonial objects, including nineteenth-century embroidered textiles, silverware and parchment scrolls. Of particular interest are the eighteenth-century Tablets of the Law, carved and painted in wood, from the Museum of Ancient Jewish Art and History in Casale Monferrato.

The arrival of Shabbat and the beginning of the day of rest—marked by the lighting of the candles—are presented in both their public and private dimensions: the home and the traditional Friday evening dinner, accompanied by blessings over wine and bread; and the time spent in the synagogue, also documented through illuminated manuscripts.

The exhibition also explores intriguing aspects of contemporary life, featuring unusual utensils and household appliances. How can food be reheated and a light kept on when the use of electricity is prohibited during the Sabbath?

“Shabbat Shalom” concludes with a room devoted to reflecting on the symbolic significance of the number seven, as Shabbat is the seventh day of the week.

The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual catalogue published by Panozzo Editore.

“Shabbat Shalom” has received the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic.

The exhibition has been made possible by its participating organisations: the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Municipality of Ferrara and the Union of Italian Jewish Communities.

Supporting Member: Intesa Sanpaolo.

The exhibition is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Ferrara; the National Office for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Italian Episcopal Conference; the University of Ferrara; and the Union of Italian Jewish Communities.

Sponsors: Tper; Gruppo Hera; Avis Comunale Ferrara; and Antica Trattoria Max.