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Did Crypto-Jews Use Tarot Cards as a Secret Tool for Jewish Education?
In this conversation moderated by Laura Mandel, Director of the Boston Jewish Arts Collaborative (JArts), Torah scholar Stav Appel and Berkshire artist Jonathan Prince examine the Tarot anew through a Judaic lens of understanding, to reveal its images as secret vessels for Hebrew letters, Judaic ritual objects, Jewish Holy Days, and legends of Torah.
The mesmerizing cards, masterpieces of cryptography, crafted when the Jewish faith was targeted for destruction, contain a surprisingly comprehensive portrait of the rituals and lore of Judaism within the limited space of twenty-two small cardboard squares.
Intrigued by enigmatic Biblical imagery in antique Tarot cards, Stav Appel started looking for answers. What he found reveals an untold story of ingenuity, perseverance, and faith in one of the darkest moments of Jewish history.
See the evidence for yourself and learn more about how this research is being transformed into an augmented reality app called “Secrets of the Tarot.” Available now in the app store, the app takes you on a journey to uncover the Torah in the Tarot that has been hiding in plain sight for nearly 400 years.
We are excited to offer this Knosh and Knowledge program in collaboration with the Boston area Jewish Arts Collaborative (JArts) as part of Federation's Celebration of Sephardic Culture.
Masks are optional.