Foto Friday – Menachem Kahana lifts the haredi veil

May 8, 2009 - 2:03 PM by

The haredi world is one that secular Israelis find alternately fascinating and disturbing, filled with rituals and mystery. Photographer Menahem Kahana, who works for French news agency AFP, has been documenting the ultra-Orthodox community for years.

In a new exhibit, now on at Tel Aviv’s Eretz Israel Museum, Kahana presents a body of work begun in 1995, when he happened upon a spring where some young haredi men were swimming.

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Over the years, as he continued his documentation, the community opened up to him: synagogues, celebrations, and rituals both usual, such as weddings…

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… and unusual, such as the pidyon ha-ben in which first-born sons are redeemed by their families from service to the High Priests of the Temple…

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…and the peter hamor, which which first born donkeys are as well.

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And everyday life, too.

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Click on this link to learn more about Kahana’s work.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , • Category: Art, Foto Friday, General, History and Culture, Holidays, Religion 

Comments

One Comment on Foto Friday – Menachem Kahana lifts the haredi veil

  1. Henry Gottesman on Thu, Jan 21st 2010 9:50 PM

    2. Anyone know where I could purchase Kahana’s book “Haredim?” it is a book of his photos.
    Thanks
    HG

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