Writings is the English name for the books of the Hebrew Bible (Tanach), called Ketuvim in Hebrew. These animated shorts bring to life some of the texts in this rich book – from Megillat Esther to Megillat Ruth, from Mishlei (Proverbs) and from Tehillim (Psalms.)
The Book of Proverbs is called Mishlei משלי in Hebrew, and is in the part of the Hebrew Bible called Writings, or Ketuvim כְּתוּבִים . This short compilation reel brings together short pieces that adult Jewish educators made while learning a new way to understand and interpret text.
Read MoreOver the course of two 1.5 hour sessions, 80 participants studied in chevruta pairs, learning a proverb and then interpreting it using the basics of stop-motion animation. They got their hands dirty as they molded clay, and ultimately created a set of original and delightful animated videos.
Each of the claymation pieces were filmed with free apps on smartphones. After the workshop we combined the individual films into one 4 minute example to show how BimBam can help make Jewish text learning fun, meaningful and memorable.
The Book of Ruth tells of Ruth the Moabite choosing to make the Israelites her people. Ruth is well-loved for her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi and is often called Judaism’s most famous convert, or Jew by choice.
Singer-songwriter Alicia Jo Rabins took the story and turned it into a delicate song, beginning the chorus with Ruth’s words to Naomi plucked straight from the Hebrew Bible: “And where you go I’ll go / where you live will be my home.” (וַתֹּאמֶר רוּת אַל-תִּפְגְּעִי-בִי, לְעָזְבֵךְ לָשׁוּב מֵאַחֲרָיִךְ: כִּי אֶל-אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכִי אֵלֵךְ, וּבַאֲשֶׁר תָּלִינִי אָלִין–עַמֵּךְ עַמִּי, וֵאלֹהַיִךְ אֱלֹהָי)
Read MoreThe Book of Ruth (in Hebrew מגילת רות, meaning the Scroll of Ruth) is within the Ketuvim (in Hebrew כְּתוּבִים meaning “writings”). It is named after its central figure, Ruth the Moabitess and traditionally read by Jews on the holiday of Shavuot, which celebrates the revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai as well as marking the beginning of the harvest season…which is depicted in our film centered around fields and threshing rooms.
Jewish interpretation is often very specific. There are a myriad of Jewish subcultures and people, and the interpretations in this video explores the array of thoughts that our diverse set of storytellers and contributors have on Jewish text.
This film was made possible by a generous gift from an anonymous donor.
Ruth Lyrics
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Ruth Source Sheet
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Book of Ruth Lesson Guide
“Girls in Trouble” is a cycle of indie-folk/art-pop songs about women in Torah created by musician and writer Alicia Jo Rabins. This song, Rubies, is adapted from the Book of Proverbs – a related song called Eshet Chayil is commonly sung at Shabbat tables – and in this video Alicia Jo explains how she wrote this midrash on the text which makes a gorgeous lullabye. Indie folk from one of the most important Jewish songwriters at work today.
Psalm 1: like many of these Biblical poems, it contrasts the “righteous” person with the “wicked” and the “sinner”. Elijah Aaron (writer, narrator) and Ted Newiss (animator) explore the path of the righteous in their new adaption in poetry, music and animation.
“Happy and free of sin and sorrow, is the man who comes to follow, the righteous in his ways…” (Adapted from Psalm 1)
In 2013, BimBam invited artists and poets from around the world to reinterpret a biblical psalm of their choice. Each of the submitted entries expressed a unique perspective into Jewish life and art today. While a panel of judges ultimately selected adaptions of Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Psalm 42 and Psalm 90, many of the semi-finalists can be heard on soundcloud (here).
Psalm 1 Lyrics
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Psalm 1 Source Sheet
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Psalm 23 is one of the best known examples of Biblical poetry. Through this original poem, and the striking animation and music here, Ariel Root Wolpe, Mariangela Mihai and Eurico da Costa Ng explore the “valley of the shadow of death” in this spoken word adaptation of Psalm 23.
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The Psalms Project
In 2013, BimBam invited artists and poets from around the world to reinterpret a biblical psalm of their choice. Each of the submitted entries expressed a unique perspective into Jewish life and art today. While a panel of judges ultimately selected adaptions of Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Psalm 42 and Psalm 90, many of the semi-finalists can be heard on soundcloud (here).
Thank you to The Koret Foundation for funding the Psalms Project, as part of an initiative to cultivate Jewish peoplehood. Additional thanks to each of the writers, narrators, producers, educators, judges, directors and sound engineers including Elijah Aaron, Barbara Barza, Maya Bernstein, Lucas Boilon, Charlie Corriea, Jina Davidovich, Danielle Foreman, Sarah Kashinsky, Sarah Lefton, Rachel Levinson, Andrew Lewitin, Neville Mickinnie, Mariangela Mihai, Eurico da Costa Ng, Russel Neiss, Ted Newiss, Alicia Jo Rabins, Will Robertson, Rachel Lopez Rosenberg, Jeremy Shuback, Allie Woilner, Dan Wolf, Evan Wolkenstein and Ariel Root Wolpe.
Psalm 23 Lyrics
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Psalms 23 Source Sheet
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Many of the oldest poems on record are associated with prayer and some of our best examples of ancient Jewish poetry are inside the Book of Psalms. Through original poetry, animations and music, Jina Davidovich and Jeremy Shuback adapted their perspective of Psalm 42, which poses the question, “Where is your God?”
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The Psalms Project
In 2013, BimBam invited artists and poets from around the world to reinterpret a biblical psalm of their choice. Each of the submitted entries expressed a unique perspective into Jewish life and art today. While a panel of judges ultimately selected adaptions of Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Psalm 42 and Psalm 90, many of the semi-finalists can be heard on soundcloud (here).
Thank you to The Koret Foundation for funding the Psalms Project, as part of an initiative to cultivate Jewish peoplehood. Additional thanks to each of the writers, narrators, producers, educators, judges, directors and sound engineers including Elijah Aaron, Barbara Barza, Maya Bernstein, Lucas Boilon, Charlie Corriea, Jina Davidovich, Danielle Foreman, Sarah Kashinsky, Sarah Lefton, Rachel Levinson, Andrew Lewitin, Neville Mickinnie, Mariangela Mihai, Eurico da Costa Ng, Russel Neiss, Ted Newiss, Alicia Jo Rabins, Will Robertson, Rachel Lopez Rosenberg, Jeremy Shuback, Allie Woilner, Dan Wolf, Evan Wolkenstein and Ariel Root Wolpe.
Psalm 90 is associated with comforting the ill, and the dying. Through original poetry, animations and music Rachel Lopez Rosenberg and Charlie Corriea parallel the structure and themes of Psalm 90 with personal hospice chaplain experience.
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The Psalms Project
In 2013, BimBam invited artists and poets from around the world to reinterpret a biblical psalm of their choice. Each of the submitted entries expressed a unique perspective into Jewish life and art today. While a panel of judges ultimately selected adaptions of Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Psalm 42 and Psalm 90, many of the semi-finalists can be heard on soundcloud (here).
Thank you to The Koret Foundation for funding the Psalms Project, as part of an initiative to cultivate Jewish peoplehood. Additional thanks to each of the writers, narrators, producers, educators, judges, directors and sound engineers including Elijah Aaron, Barbara Barza, Maya Bernstein, Lucas Boilon, Charlie Corriea, Jina Davidovich, Danielle Foreman, Sarah Kashinsky, Sarah Lefton, Rachel Levinson, Andrew Lewitin, Neville Mickinnie, Mariangela Mihai, Eurico da Costa Ng, Russel Neiss, Ted Newiss, Alicia Jo Rabins, Will Robertson, Rachel Lopez Rosenberg, Jeremy Shuback, Allie Woilner, Dan Wolf, Evan Wolkenstein and Ariel Root Wolpe.
Psalm 90 Lyrics
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Psalms 90 Source Sheet
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