Miriam

Emil Armin kept this sculpture of Miriam, the sister of Moses, for his personal enjoyment. The Smart Museum received it in 1990 as a bequest from his wife, Hilda.

In the Jewish faith there are six biblical events that the Torah enjoins its followers to remember every day. One of these is "remember what God did to Miriam on the way from Egypt" (Deut. 24:9)—note the Egyptian motifs around the bottom of the statue. When Miriam questioned her brother’s actions, God struck her with leprosy for challenging his most revered prophet. Daily remembrance of this story is a reminder to refrain from speaking ill of others. Perhaps this is why the artist kept this work for those many years.