The Spirit of The Joint

“Kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh” (All Israel is responsible one for the other)
Experimental Project/ Artwork, 2023

Client: JCD (The Joint Israel), Jerusalem
Ran Rovner, Reeva Ninio
Photos: Diego Rosman, Niv Kasher

As part of the extensive renovation of the main offices of The Joint in Jerusalem, we were commissioned to create a mural that would express the spirit of the organization and integrate its historic emblem. In our design proposal, we focused on one of the fundamental values of The Joint: “All Israel is responsible one for the other.” With this in mind, the underlying concept of the work is an appreciation of the enormous enterprise of The Joint as an interweaving of mutual responsibility.

 

A defining characteristic of The Joint is its multitude of volunteers, staff, and activists scattered among Jewish communities around the globe, who are willing and able to assist the community at any time. We decided to approach these people and ask them what The Joint means to them. The collected points of view of community activists form the basis of the artwork.

 

The result was a meticulous work, centered on the emblem of The Joint, which we had dismantled, painted, and reassembled. In order to express the human and ideological diversity on which the organization rests, we integrated almost one hundred sentences in different languages, written by Joint personnel across the world.       

The process included countless experiments in printing on different materials, dismantling, and realignment in a lengthwise-crosswise weaving technique. 

The final work was executed in mixed media, based on a painting in gouache, scanning and digital processing, print on fabric, cutting pieces and reassembling them anew lengthwise and crosswise, interweaving, and embroidery.