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Imre Ámos: Festival of Booths

Imre Ámos: Festival of Booths. The painter of the picture was born as Imre Ungár in Nagykálló in 1907. He changed his name to Ámos in 1934, as a reference to the biblical prophet. From 1931 he exhibited at exhibitions, and in 1937, in Paris, he met Marc Chagall, whose influence is palpable on his works of art. Imre Ámos died at a very young age, in 1944, in a German concentration camp. In the painting called “Festival of Booth” you can see his grandfather with the festive Sukkot bouquet in his hand. The festive bouquet consists of four different plants; each piece can be compared with the children of Israel. Etrog has both a pleasant scent and a pleasant taste, so useful and pleasant at the same time, just like a Jew, who has both knowledge of Torah and good deeds. The palm tree reminds of those pious people, who has no knowledge of the Torah but are useful members of the community. The date, the fruit of the palm tree is though tasty, but has no scent. The scent of myrtle, however, is not associated with any flavor, so those Jews are of no use, who show off their knowledge just as decoration. And finally, like the willow branch, there are those, who do not stand out neither at practicing good deeds nor in knowledge. And yet, all of them complement each other to form a whole community, as the plants of the festive bouquet.