Binah
Title
Binah
Creator
Levine, Molly
Abstract
Binah, Hebrew for “understanding,” showcases the complexity of Jewish female identity.
Inspired by the works of Jewish artist Hannah Altman, this project explores the significance of Jewish tradition and memory. Growing up in a Jewish household, my religious identity has always played an important role in my life. The traditions. The prayers. The food. I hold all of it closely to my heart.
What I hold especially close to my heart are the Jewish women in my life.
In my work, I capture the Binah that these women exhibit. From my grandma, who intuitively slices challah bread, to my mom, who carefully lights the Shabbat candles, they each express unique feminine energy. I highlight this energy through family photos and original work, focusing on physical traits, symbolic objects, and a bat mitzvah ceremony.
It was impossible to pick a single aspect of Jewish female identity to focus on. Instead, I peeled apart the layers that make up Jewish girlhood and womanhood. The physical characteristics. The comforting recipes. The sacred traditions. And at the center of it all, the Jewish women before me who passed down Binah.
Binah displays Jewish women and their extra understanding, spiritual truth, and divine wisdom.
Inspired by the works of Jewish artist Hannah Altman, this project explores the significance of Jewish tradition and memory. Growing up in a Jewish household, my religious identity has always played an important role in my life. The traditions. The prayers. The food. I hold all of it closely to my heart.
What I hold especially close to my heart are the Jewish women in my life.
In my work, I capture the Binah that these women exhibit. From my grandma, who intuitively slices challah bread, to my mom, who carefully lights the Shabbat candles, they each express unique feminine energy. I highlight this energy through family photos and original work, focusing on physical traits, symbolic objects, and a bat mitzvah ceremony.
It was impossible to pick a single aspect of Jewish female identity to focus on. Instead, I peeled apart the layers that make up Jewish girlhood and womanhood. The physical characteristics. The comforting recipes. The sacred traditions. And at the center of it all, the Jewish women before me who passed down Binah.
Binah displays Jewish women and their extra understanding, spiritual truth, and divine wisdom.
Date
2026
Citation
Levine, Molly, “Binah,” MU Libraries Digital Exhibits and Online Forums, accessed March 31, 2026, https://library.missouri.edu/exhibits/items/show/311.
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