Wednesday, July 8, 2020 – Women of the Orthodox Jewish Community are Invisible.

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Wednesday, July 8, 2020

99th Edition

From Our Archives

INVISIBLE WOMEN IN THE 

ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY

In the ultra orthodox community, surrounded by mystery, women and men live mostly apart. It’s a life regulated by many rules. One important aspect is the invisibility of women. They are not to be represented outside of their family.

Ghila Krajzman has found a way to show the strong bond that unites these women. With extreme cropping, showing their hands only, and heavy photoshop, these images let us peek into this intriguing world, and reveal their intense relationships.

Modesty, and the reluctance to stand out, have them dress mostly alike, in very similar color palette. And the similarity of their looks brings a feeling of unrest to the viewer. By removing all specific context from the images, this artistic documentary aims to convey communication among women in all societies.

Ghila Kratjzman is a professional wedding photographer and longtime island resident.  Her photos are available on gknyphoto.com

Prior to the ceremony, Ashkenazi Jews have a custom to cover the face of the bride (usually with a veil), and a prayer is often said for her based on the words spoken to Rebecca in Genesis 24:60.[10] The veiling ritual is known in Yiddish as badeken. Various reasons are given for the veil and the ceremony, a commonly accepted reason is that it reminds the Jewish people of how Jacob was tricked by Laban into marrying Leah before Rachel, as her face was covered by her veil (see Vayetze). Another reasoning is that Rebecca is said to have veiled herself when approached by Isaac, who would become her husband Sephardi Jews do not perform this ceremony. Additionally, the veil emphasizes that the groom is not solely interested in the bride’s external beauty, which fades with time; but rather in her inner beauty which she will never lose. Wikipedia (c)

WEDNESDAY’S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Who is this?
E-mail jbird134@aol.com
 Win a trinket from Kiosk

TUESDAY’S PHOTO OF THE DAY

The atrium of Motorgate
Winner is Alexis Villefane and Nancy Brown

Wheel from old tram cabins that area abandoned in back of Motorgate

EDITORIAL

Last evening a phone call arrived from an old friend.  She retired from the island about 20 years ago to live in California with her family.  After being a member of a community she relished the thought of her own life and own home.

We spoke of the old days, when we consulted each other at a booth at Trellis, when we all met and chatted no matter where we were on Main Street.  We followed our own paths but all paths seemed to intermingle here.
We supported the store, donating  and buying.  Some folks worked there for a pittance and may bags of food.  No on was turned away.

The teens loved the activities, celebrations,  Halloween, trips and all kind of fun activities.

After she left, our communities went back into isolation, few activities for the community and a hands – off  attitude of those who here part time to serve us.
We miss you friend.  Your years on the island brought us a sense of community well-being.

JUDITH BERDY
jbird134@aol.com

Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff
FUNDING PROVIDED BY:
ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION THRU PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDING

CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDS THRU DYCD

All image are copyrighted (c)
Roosevelt Island Historical Society
unless otherwise indicated
PHOTOS COPYRIGHT GHILA KRATJZMAN (c)
FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE GRANTS
CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD

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rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com