In September 1995, a festival of
various arts which lasted almost three weeks was held in Prague. It was
conceived and initiated by the author of this report during his tour of
duty as the Ambassador of Israel to the Czech Republic. Its main idea
was based on two concepts. First, that it will encompass all arts and
not be limited to one artistic form - music or dance or theater - as
most festivals do. Second, all events of the festival should revolve
around themes and motifs inspired by the Bible, and reflect human
artistic creation from medieval times to our own era.
The response of Czech cultural and
artistic community to this idea was overwhelming. The President of the
Republic, Vaclav Havel himself, served as the Honorary Chairman of the
Festival. Many other political, academic and religious leaders joined
the Honorary Committee. Banks and economic enterprises came forward
with financial contributions. Preparations lasted a year and a half.
The seventy events of the festival
included eight theater performances; puppet theaters; fourteen films;
thirteen exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and old manuscripts and
books ranging from medieval art to the most contemporary; forty-one
concerts of various orchestras and other ensembles, including opera and
ballet; an international academic symposium on “the Bible as a source of
inspiration”; high school essay contest, elementary school painting
competition and much more.
The message of the festival came out very
clearly: the link between Israel and the Bible, which is the People of
Israel’s greatest contribution to human civilization.
It
was a most impressive demonstration of the Bible as a major source of
inspiration of the Arts.
