Nine Days in Av – A Journey between the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan river
On the first day of Av (the evening of July 11th) artists Guy Briller and Ronen Eidelman left for a nine day journey throughout historic Eretz Yisrael-Palestina (land of Israel Palestine), traveling in the footsteps of past destructions and in fear of (god forbid) the destructions that could come.
The journey took place via a caravan (RV) that was converted into a mobile studio that includes solar powered electricity and full multimedia equipment. The mobile studio enabled full time interventions in diverse spheres – urban and open spaces- which were transmitted in real time.
The journey, meetings, events and everything took place during the nine days of the journey were streamed through internet video twenty four seven via the website set up for the project.
The caravan (RV) that was converted into a mobile studio that includes solar powered electricity and full multimedia equipment. The mobile studio enables full-time interventions in diverse spheres – urban and open spaces- that are transmitted in real time.
“Nine Days in Av” is a journey that takes place in the current Israeli Palestinian situation.
“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem… An ox knows his owner and a donkey his master’s crib; Israel does not know, my people does not consider… Your ministers are rebellious and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes and runs after payments; the orphan they do not judge, and the quarrel of the widow does not come to them…” Isaiah, chapter 1, from the Haftara reading from the Sabbath before 9th of Av.
Throughout the journey Briller and Eidelman met talked and listened to the different people who live between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. At these meetings, they explored the different concepts and relevance to the past tragedies; causes and consequences.
Jewish tradition relates to the period of the journey The Nine Days” the first nine days of the Jewish month of Av, as a time of mourning and reduction of joy. The period culminates in Tisha B’Av (9th day of Av) which commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem and many other tragedies that came upon the Jewish people. According to tradition the Temple was destroyed because of Sinat Chinam - Baseless Hatred. During the journey the artists wish to bypass the hatred and replace it with Ahavat Chinam – Baseless Love.
During the journey Briller and Eidelman held prearranged meetings with individuals with unique voices that are barley heard through the media racket and are active in their various communities: political activist, neighborhood organizers, union members, artists, religious leaders, poets, philosophers, refugees and unrecognized citizens, Arabs and Jews. These meetings happened alongside unplanned meetings with people who live or who roam the region and are also concerned with the future of this land.
The journy started in Jerusalem; then west to Tel Aviv, south via Holon, Bat-Yam, and Ashdod to Bersheba and the Bedouin Diaspora, north to South Mount Hebron, Hebron and Gush Etzion, continuing through Palestinian territories (Area C). From there it continued through the Jordan Valley towards the Galilee visiting Maghar, Nazareth and Kilil. Swinging south via the Mediterranean shore, to Binyamina an Modi’in and Bilin and then back to Jerusalem for Ninth of Av eve.
The journey is like a sort of “big brother” on wheels that will include in addition to the streaming live video, text updates (twitter) photos, and video clips edited on the road. The whereabouts of the caravan can also be followed via GPS system. However, in contrast to the “big brother” television show, Eidelman and Briller were in movement, met fascinating people, had sincere conversation and created interesting, real and honest content about our life here in this land.
A blog with texts, pictures and videos from a personal point of view of the artists and where anyone can comment and respond to the project wascreated.
The journey took place from the evening from July 11th -20th