{"id":97705,"date":"2021-05-11T15:28:58","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T12:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/?p=97705"},"modified":"2025-03-18T15:57:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T13:57:44","slug":"djm-drawing-moses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/en\/djm-drawing-moses\/","title":{"rendered":"Drawing Moses&#8230; From the Sublime to the Ridiculous"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;And they saw the sounds\u2026&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What does that mean? How can sounds be seen? What do they look like?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though every word in the Torah has been scrutinized and analyzed for generations, this description \u2013 provided in the context of the Israelites receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai \u2013 seems particularly enigmatic.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The answer is certainly not obvious nor clear, and like any good Jewish question, it has been asked and answered in some very interesting ways across the ages.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many understood it quite literally \u2013 the letters comprising the Ten Commandments themselves appeared in the air, for all to see.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97773\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97773\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/sheets\/NNL_Ephemera700255788\/NLI\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97773 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/997002557880405171-KKL-Shavuot.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/997002557880405171-KKL-Shavuot.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/997002557880405171-KKL-Shavuot-204x300.jpg 204w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/997002557880405171-KKL-Shavuot-407x600.jpg 407w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97773\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/sheets\/NNL_Ephemera700255788\/NLI\">Jewish National Fund poster, ca. 1960.<\/a> From the National Library of Israel Ephemera Collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some took a bit of a more mind-bending approach, explaining \u2013 in various ways \u2013 how at that critical moment in the Jewish story, the Israelites were on a different physical and spiritual plain&#8230; All their senses merged together.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, other commentators rejected both of those explanations, instead opting for a more rational approach: the description was not to be understood literally. Just as someone who understands something might say, &#8220;I see,&#8221; so, too, did the Israelites &#8220;see&#8221; the commandments they were receiving.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Given the ambiguous nature of these particular words, it seems no wonder that artists over the centuries who wanted to draw the scene largely focused on concepts and imagery that would be a bit easier to convey.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here are a few depictions from the National Library of Israel collections, ranging from the sublime to the (all but) ridiculous\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#8217;s start with the sublime\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This gorgeous 15<sup>th<\/sup> century Italian prayer book shows Moses atop Mt. Sinai receiving a Torah scroll from Heaven. You have to give the artist credit for making efforts to show the sounds and shofar blasts referenced in the original text&#8230; those shofars are clearly blasting right down to Moses and all of the Israelites below!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97706\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97706\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990000428980205171-roman-mahzor-cropped-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97706\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990000428980205171-roman-mahzor-cropped-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990000428980205171-roman-mahzor-cropped-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990000428980205171-roman-mahzor-cropped-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990000428980205171-roman-mahzor-cropped-733x600.jpg 733w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990000428980205171-roman-mahzor-cropped-768x628.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990000428980205171-roman-mahzor-cropped-1536x1257.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990000428980205171-roman-mahzor-cropped-2048x1676.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97706\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/manuscripts\/NNL_ALEPH000042898\/NLI#$FL16455193\">Prayer book according to the Roman rite, ca. 1450.<\/a> From the National Library of Israel collection. Click image to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Less colorful (and less Jewish) \u2013 though no less detailed \u2013 our next depiction comes from one of the first printed books to integrate images and text. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/books\/NNL_ALEPH001344086\/NLI\">Liber chronicarum<\/a><\/em>, published in Nuremberg in 1493, is an historical encyclopedia printed in Latin and shortly thereafter in German.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though depicting God is generally a &#8220;no-no&#8221; in Jewish sources, it was okay for the Christian artists who created this work, showing God Himself giving a horned Moses the Ten Commandments!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a seeming contradiction to the Biblical text, Israelites are shown waiting for the Law rather patiently.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97709\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97709\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/en\/?attachment_id=97709\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97709\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Liber-chronicarum-cropped-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Liber-chronicarum-cropped-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Liber-chronicarum-cropped-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Liber-chronicarum-cropped-970x561.jpg 970w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Liber-chronicarum-cropped-768x444.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Liber-chronicarum-cropped-1536x889.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Liber-chronicarum-cropped-2048x1185.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97709\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Page 114 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/books\/NNL_ALEPH001344086\/NLI\"><em>Liber chronicarum<\/em><\/a>, Nuremberg, 1493. From the National Library of Israel collection. Click image to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This one, which appeared in a work edited by an 18<sup>th<\/sup> century Jesuit missionary, features a crucified Jesus right next to Moses on Mt. Sinai! Also, check out the stairs going up the mountain. Eighty-year-old Moses surely would have appreciated those, even if they do kind of look like an MC Escher creation&#8230;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97712\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97712\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023681900205171-abbildung-cropped.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97712\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023681900205171-abbildung-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023681900205171-abbildung-cropped.jpg 2164w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023681900205171-abbildung-cropped-264x300.jpg 264w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023681900205171-abbildung-cropped-528x600.jpg 528w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023681900205171-abbildung-cropped-768x873.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023681900205171-abbildung-cropped-1351x1536.jpg 1351w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023681900205171-abbildung-cropped-1802x2048.jpg 1802w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97712\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Engraving by Christian Dietell appearing in Joseph Stoecklein&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_MAPS_JER002368190\/NLI#$FL13736028\"><em>Der Neue Welt-Bott<\/em><\/a>, Augsburg and Graz, 1732. From the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection at the National Library of Israel collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A similar one, printed in Russia in 1821, shows Moses literally being handed the Ten Commandments:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97715\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97715\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990027292780205171-Russian-cropped.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97715\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990027292780205171-Russian-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990027292780205171-Russian-cropped.jpg 1208w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990027292780205171-Russian-cropped-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990027292780205171-Russian-cropped-875x600.jpg 875w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990027292780205171-Russian-cropped-768x526.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97715\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_MAPS_JER002729278\/NLI#$FL13745772\">&#8220;A view representing Mount Sinai, all the wonderful and ancient places lying in Jerusalem and in the vicinity of Onago\u2026&#8221;, St. Petersburg, 1821.<\/a> From the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection at the National Library of Israel. Click image to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">No hands of God in the next one, printed in 16th century Venice, though Moses does get horns (as opposed to rays of lights protruding from his head), and a nice cottage!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97735\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97735\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023682200205171-LATIN-Venice-cropped.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97735\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023682200205171-LATIN-Venice-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"271\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023682200205171-LATIN-Venice-cropped.jpg 2030w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023682200205171-LATIN-Venice-cropped-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023682200205171-LATIN-Venice-cropped-970x527.jpg 970w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023682200205171-LATIN-Venice-cropped-768x417.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023682200205171-LATIN-Venice-cropped-1536x834.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97735\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH002368220\/NLI#$FL7073988\">Moses receiving the Law on a Latin map printed in Venice, 1569.<\/a> From the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection at the National Library of Israel. Click image to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moses on Mt. Sinai features in countless Christian maps, sometimes appearing as a geographical location within the map and sometimes as more of an artistic accent somewhere outside the boundaries of the map itself.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here are a few examples, many of them featuring identical or very similar images alongside texts that have been translated into different languages.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Click on the link in each caption to see the full map and see if you can find Moses in the original!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97718\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97718\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH002369615\/NLI#$FL35704926\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97718 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023696150205171-dutch-laor-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023696150205171-dutch-laor-cropped.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990023696150205171-dutch-laor-cropped-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97718\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH002369615\/NLI#$FL35704926\">Map appearing in a Dutch Bible, ca. 1600.<\/a> From the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection at the National Library of Israel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH003899771\/NLI#$FL36556426\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-97725 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-1-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-1-cropped.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-1-cropped-300x151.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97722\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97722\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-2-cropped-for-article-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97722\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-2-cropped-for-article-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-2-cropped-for-article-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-2-cropped-for-article-300x260.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-2-cropped-for-article-693x600.jpg 693w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-2-cropped-for-article-768x665.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-2-cropped-for-article-1536x1331.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990038997710205171-dutch-2-cropped-for-article-2048x1774.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97722\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Images of Moses and Mt. Sinai on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH003899771\/NLI#$FL36556426\">map printed in Amsterdam, 1677<\/a>. From the Amir Cahanovitc Collection, National Library of Israel Digital Collection. Click images to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97787\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97787\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH003940258\/NLI#$FL48326174\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97787 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/french-good.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/french-good.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/french-good-300x114.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97787\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH003940258\/NLI#$FL48326174\">Moses receiving the Law on a French map printed in Amsterdam, 1704.<\/a> From the Amir Cahanovitc Collection, National Library of Israel Digital Collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97747\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97747\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH003902571\/NLI#$FL36566135\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97747 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990039025710205171-german-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990039025710205171-german-cropped.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/990039025710205171-german-cropped-300x142.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97747\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_ALEPH003902571\/NLI#$FL36566135\">Moses receiving the Law on a German map printed in The Netherlands, 1716.<\/a> From the Amir Cahanovitc Collection, National Library of Israel Digital Collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And now for some Jewish renditions\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here are the Ten Commandments appearing on Mt. Sinai. Notice that Moses doesn\u2019t appear, perhaps due to the religious sentiments of the Jewish cartographer or his intended clientele.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97783\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97783\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_MAPS_JER002369252\/NLI#$FL7070624\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97783 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/hebrew-map-good.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"564\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/hebrew-map-good.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/hebrew-map-good-266x300.jpg 266w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97783\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/maps\/NNL_MAPS_JER002369252\/NLI#$FL7070624\">&#8220;Map of the Holy Land and its boundaries&#8221; by Joseph Schwarz, Wuerzburg, 1829.<\/a> From the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection at the National Library of Israel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though there are some Jewish maps, such as the one by Joseph Schwarz appearing above, Haggadot are, of course, a much more common place to find Jewish art, and \u2013 in our case \u2013 depictions of Moses on Mt. Sinai.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This depiction, which includes a fence around Mt. Sinai as mentioned in the text, has an almost shtetl-like vibe to it, no?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97779\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97779\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zimmel-haggadah.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97779\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zimmel-haggadah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zimmel-haggadah.jpg 1656w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zimmel-haggadah-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zimmel-haggadah-840x600.jpg 840w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zimmel-haggadah-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zimmel-haggadah-1536x1097.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97779\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Depiction of the scene by renowned scribe and illuminator Meshullam Zimmel ben Moshe of Polna (Bohemia) appearing in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/manuscripts\/NNL_ALEPH000043102\/NLI#$FL33630343\">Haggadah produced in Vienna, 1719<\/a>. From the National Library of Israel Collection. Click image to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A similar scene, with Moses apparently engulfed by clouds, appears in a different illustrated Haggadah produced a few years later by another renowned Jewish artist, Joseph ben David of Leipnik. It is likely that both of these images (as well as the last one featured in this article) were inspired by the 1695 printed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/books\/NNL_ALEPH001379884\/NLI\">Amsterdam Haggadah<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-1-cropped.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97753 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-1-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-1-cropped.jpg 1816w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-1-cropped-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-1-cropped-796x600.jpg 796w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-1-cropped-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-1-cropped-1536x1157.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97756\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97756\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/manuscripts\/NNL_ALEPH000042180\/NLI#$FL10348737\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97756\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-2-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-2-cropped.jpg 552w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Darmstadt-Moses-2-cropped-300x271.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97756\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Depictions of Moses and Mt. Sinai by Joseph ben David of Leipnik, appearing in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/manuscripts\/NNL_ALEPH000042180\/NLI#$FL10348737\">Haggadah produced in Darmstadt, 1733<\/a>. From the National Library of Israel Collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And now the illustration of Moses you may or may not have been waiting for\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From afar it looks like a similar scene and a decent enough rendition of Moses and the Giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97762\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97762\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-97762\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped.jpg 2170w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-784x600.jpg 784w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-768x588.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-1536x1175.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-2048x1567.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97762\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/manuscripts\/NNL_ALEPH000044389\/NLI#$FL58393096\">Haggadah, Amsterdam, 1769.<\/a> From the National Library of Israel collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet as you look closer\u2026 something seems a bit off\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-zoom1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-97765\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-zoom1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-zoom1.jpg 850w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-zoom1-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-zoom1-726x600.jpg 726w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-cropped-zoom1-768x634.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With all due respect to children, this illustration appearing in a priceless centuries-old Hebrew manuscript looks like\u2026 well\u2026 a second grade arts-and-crafts project?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97759 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.nli.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-zoom2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-zoom2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blognli2026.moonsite.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/amsterdam-worst-haggadah-zoom2-300x181.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Maybe even a self-portrait of an enraged elementary school student tearing up his homework?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Could something have gone wrong along the way?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The artist&#8217;s own child stepped in when Dad wasn\u2019t looking?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Paint was running low?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">An attempt at &#8220;post-modern&#8221; before there was even &#8220;modern&#8221;?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A botched restoration attempt?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We will never know, though maybe \u2013 like the sounds at Mt. Sinai, any good work of art and every Jewish text \u2013 we are all meant to see and appreciate this particular &#8220;revelation&#8221; at Mt. Sinai in our own way.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8212;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Many thanks to friends and colleagues Dr. Yoel Finkelman, Dr. Stefan Litt and Ayelet Rubin for their assistance.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>This article has been published as part of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/europe.nli.org.il\/\">Gesher L\u2019Europa<\/a>, the National Library of Israel\u2019s initiative to connect with people, institutions and communities across Europe and beyond, through storytelling, knowledge sharing and community engagement.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A glimpse into how artists across the ages have tried to depict the undepictable events at Mt. Sinai&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":132473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[218],"tags":[5083,1554,649,1708,310,1806,1808],"tags2":[5086,2850],"class_list":["post-97705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-judaism","tag-biblical-stories","tag-deciphering-jewish-manuscripts","tag-gesherleuropa","tag-jewish-holidays","tag-jewishmanuscripts","tag-maps","tag-shavuot"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Drawing Moses... From the Sublime to the Ridiculous<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A glimpse into how artists across the ages have tried to depict the undepictable events at Mt. 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