By Cosette Shachnow
Caesarea, Israel, an antiquated port city, is home to Israeli celebrities and politicians such as Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Amongst Caesarea’s exclusive golf courses and pricy restaurants are The Ralli Museums.
The Ralli Museums consist of two large museums that sit adjacent to each other. One contains Latin American art and the other contains bible-themed art. The art comes from the private collection of the late Harry Recanati, who was born into a wealthy banking family in 1919. He shared his art collection with the public to foster an appreciation for art, particularly for Latin American art and artists.
Israel, always on the brink of war and considered by most to be the Jewish Homeland, is unique. Much of the country’s story has been shaped by Judaic history and law, the Holocaust and persisting antisemitism. As such, one visiting Israel has ample opportunity to learn about those events. However, despite the fact that Israel is a Jewish state fighting to survive, the country is not solely defined by its Jewishness. This becomes apparent at the Ralli Museums.
The museums’ beauty is not only a testament to the many Salvador Dali statutes scattered throughout, but also to the complimentary admission, lack of security, and the fact that its open on Saturdays. The complimentary admission makes the museum accessible to tourists and families. Additionally, schoolchildren frequently visit the museum on school trips. The lack of security is unique. Most public places – like malls, train stations, and religious sites –require visitors to pass through a metal detector. At the Ralli Museums, there are no metal detectors or visible security guards. This distinguishes the Ralli Museums from other Israeli establishments. In addition to creating an inviting atmosphere and allowing visitors to quickly scurry to Belkin Arnold’s stunningly colorful triptych, 1492, it removes the oppressiveness and pretentiousness that many associate with museums. Everyone is welcome at the Ralli Museums, regardless of his religion, nationality, or economic status. Additionally, Israel is a Jewish state, and Jewish religious law prohibits working on Saturdays (the Sabbath). Accordingly, busses stop operating on Friday evenings and resume on Saturday evenings, and although some establishments remain open during the day on Saturdays, the lack of available busses can make it challenging to travel to these open establishments. Meanwhile, many people in Israel – including religious Israeli citizens – want to do activities on Saturdays. Fortunately, the Ralli Museums stay open, so people with cars (or those willing to splurge on a cab) can view Latin American art and learn about the Old Testament’s traditional, and potentially taboo, stories through viewing works such as Lot and His Daughters (about two sisters who intoxicated their father in order to have relations with him, so that they could bear a child, Genesis Chapter 19.)
Despite the Ralli Museums’ inclusiveness, the museum does not abandon its Jewish identity. A plaque outside the museum dedicates the museum to the memory of Jewish communities in Spain and Portugal. Perhaps this is because Recanati was a Spanish Jew, and the museums are located in Israel. Additionally, one of the museum’s buildings is dedicated to telling Jewish biblical stories. Although this aligns with the status quo of Israel, it can be seen to diversify the art world – which is not short on New Testament pieces.
Despite Caesarea’s beauty, its exclusivity can make a visit there distressing. However, the Ralli Museums, which hold priceless works, are accessible and inclusive – and thus a model for museums and cultural institutions throughout the world.
http://www.esra-magazine.com/blog/post/ralli-museum
https://www.rallimuseums.com/en/About_Ralli_Museums_Caesarea
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3490060/jewish/Who-Was-Lot-Hero-or-Villain.htm
