Judaism Unbound Episode 436: My Body’s Keeper – Sharoni Sibony
Sharoni Sibony is a multi-talented Jewish educator, and the artist behind an exhibition entitled My Body’s Keeper: Provocations and Possibilities. Sibony joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about Jewish ritual technologies, art, disability Torah, and more. This episode is the 7th in an ongoing series of Judaism Unbound episodes exploring the Torah of disability and chronic illness. To view the artistic depictions of ritual objects referenced in the podcast, scroll down this page.
[1] Dan and Lex speak at length in this episode with Sharoni about her recent creative project, “My Body’s Keeper.” You can read more about the project and view all of the art referenced in this conversation here. Several of Sharoni’s pieces from “My Body’s Keeper” are included below as a visual companion to the episode:
Eternal Light Therapy
Watercolour and pen
Foam Roller Torah
Watercolour and pen
Pomegranate Pill Box
Watercolour and pen
Tender Pointers
Watercolour, pen, and burnt paper
Torah Medicine Cabinets
Watercolour and pen
[2] Learn more about Sharoni Sibony via this link.
[3] Sharoni mentions Vanessa Ochs's book Inventing Jewish Ritual. Vanessa appeared as one of our earliest guests on the Judaism Unbound podcast, way back in Episode 5.
[4] Sharoni brings in the concept of Hiddur Mitzvah, the beautification of mitzvot, and its impact in her work and thinking.
[5] Our conversation with Sharoni finds common ground with our previous conversation with Brett Lockspeiser about spiritual hardware and imagining new kinds of Jewish ritual objects. Listen to our episode with Brett here.
[6] Sharoni and Lex discuss a Jewish prayer for healing, Mi Shebeirach, and the intentions and shortcomings of this liturgy. Learn more about the Mi Shebeirach here.
