Talk to focus on Dali’s works about Israel

For more than two decades, the Solomon-Tenenbaum Lectureship in Jewish Studies has worked to nurture understanding between the Jewish and non-Jewish communities in Columbia.

Thursday, for the 26th year, that tradition continues.

Emory University scholar David Blumenthal will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Capstone House at the University of South Carolina. The talk, titled “Salvador Dali’s ‘Aliyah: The Rebirth of Israel,’” is free and open to the public.

Best known for his 20th-century surrealist pieces, Dali painted 25 works to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel. Blumenthal will discuss how and why the pieces differed from the rest of Dali’s work.

Blumenthal said Dali, a Spanish-Catholic with right-wing nationalist views, was provoked to create Jewish work. In his presentation, Blumenthal will delve into Dali’s decision to create the works, what he chose to depict and the accuracy of his scenes.

Blumenthal teaches and writes on constructive Jewish theology, medieval Judaism, Jewish mysticism, and holocaust studies at Emory. He’s written numerous articles and 11 books, including the two-volume “Understanding Jewish Mysticism” and his most recent book “Philosophic Mysticism: Essaid in Rational Religion.”

The Solomon-Tenenbaum Lectureship in Jewish Studies is funded by Judith and the late Melvin Solomon of Charleston and Samuel and Inez Tenenbaum of Columbia.

“The Solomon-Tenenbaum Lectureship is generated to give not only the faculty and students at the University of South Carolina, but also the community an opportunity to study the Jewish experience,” said Ann Cameron, director of external relations at the University of South Carolina’s College of Arts and Sciences. “It has been a wonderful opportunity for the community to come in and see outstanding scholars and lecturers. It’s a tremendous outreach to the community.”

Lezlie Patterson, Special to The State

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 6:00 AM.