Jewish funerals have their own special traditions not only before and during, but also right after the funeral. One tradition is that mourners wash their hands to demonstrate the symbolism of cleansing. Most Jewish cemeteries have a special building for this symbolic cleansing.

The mourners line up, entering through one door, wash their hands, and exit through another door. This is quite common, and many Jewish cemeteries have such a building for handwashing purposes.

The photograph above was taken by me.

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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.

Temple Emanu-El, New York City.

Temple Emanu-El is considered to be one of the foremost architectural landmarks in NYC. The Synagogue is majestic, adding not only architectural beauty, but also architectural and cultural history to NYC. The interior seats more people than St. Patrick’s Cathedral does.

The Reform congregation was founded in 1845, in the Lower East Side. The congregation moved uptown in the 1920s. In 1927, construction on the current Temple Emanu-El site began.

Temple Emanu-El also presents special exhibits. The current one is entitled “Houses of Life: Jewish Cemeteries of Europe“.

If you are in NYC, try to visit Temple Emanu-El, for a prayer service, or for its architectural aspects, and/or the items displayed year-round in their museum. From Torah Crowns to hanging lamps, traditional holiday items to household items, there are approximately 650 beautiful Judaica items for the eyes to see.

The photograph above was not taken by me, but was purchased by me through an online stock photography web site.

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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.

Happy birthday, beloved daddy. You are dearly missed.

May you be resting in peace.

The photographs above were taken by me, and are my copyright, All Rights Reserved.

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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.

Irena Sendler died on Monday May 12, 2008, in Warsaw, Poland, at the age of 98. During World War II, she saved over 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto, by smuggling them out in sacks, bags, sewer systems, and any other means she could think of.

Irena Sendler was a woman of great courage, integrity, and she demonstrated incredible humanitarianism through her efforts during the Shoah/Holocaust. She strived for peace, and she worked towards acceptance of everyone, no matter their religion or their race. Irena Sandler’s belief in the positive over the negative, good over evil, has saved, inspired and touched the lives of many. This year she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Irena Sendler was also known as “the female Schindler“. She will be missed, not only by the worldwide Jewish community, but by people everywhere, no matter their cultural background.

Her Mitzvahs were numerous, in the thousands, and her Shoah/Holocaust testimony brought light to situations that might have gone unnoticed. Irena Sendler will not be forgotten, and her legacy to humanity will live on in the time continuum.

May she rest in peace.

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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.

“The Year My Parents Went on Vacation“, is directed by Cao Hamburger, and was produced in Brazil. The film is subtitled in English, and written in Portugese, Yiddish and Hebrew.

The movie takes place in Sao Paulo, during 1970 Brazil, when the country was run by military regime. The story line isn’t so much about the turbulence and military authority, as it is about Mauro, his coming-of-age, and the changes in his life that he encounters, and adjustments he must make, when his parents drop him off to stay with his Jewish grandfather.

Michel Joelsas, who plays 12-year old Mauro, is very good at conveying the lonely feelings of the boy, and also conveys the confusion he feels over the fact his parents are gone. He keeps asking about them, and is constantly told that they are on vacation. His life before his parents left revolved around soccer/football, and that facet of his life remains the same. In fact, the entire city population lives for the sport.

There are some humorous parts to the film, and many moments that display warmth and vibrancy. I especially enjoyed the portrayal of the Jewish community of Sao Paolo, and how we see how they adored soccer/football, as much as any other Brazilian citizen did, their passion about the game overflowing with vibrancy and exuberance, whether young or old, Orthodox Jews or not.

We are given snippets of daily life, from the apartments to the street noises, the traditions, and the food, and are given views of culture, both social and religious. The film is delightful, humorous, poignant, well-constructed and developed with social aspects, as well as historical perspectives. The cinematography is wonderful. “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation” is a film filled with humanity and acceptance. Cao Hamburger, himself, recognizes the degrees one goes through in order to feel part of their environment, due to his own background. “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation” is a brilliant reflection of his ability to infuse emotion and empathy, history and religion, within political and social confines.

I could go into more detail, but won’t, as I don’t want to give too much away.

I saw this film Saturday, and I highly recommend this film to everyone.

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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.

“The Dream“: A Memoir, by Harry Bernstein, is Bernstein’s follow-up memoir to his critically acclaimed “The Invisible Wall“, which I read and reviewed, when it was first published.

When I saw “The Dream” on the shelf of newly released books, in the book store, I grabbed it immediately, because I was enthralled with “The Invisible Wall” immensely. I am not sorry I did, as reading the book paints a picture of America both before and post-depression era. In particular, “The Dream” focuses on the hardship Bernstein’s family went through, both physically, socially, emotionally and mentally.

The family members that made up Bernstein’s family are as different as they are alike. Each member relates to the whole, each member’s personality a reflection of their harsh and abusive environment. The dominant force within the family was Bernstein’s mother, the ever protective mother, the one who held the family together during times of crisis, and held the family together from her emotionally abusive husband.

Bernstein’s father was an alcoholic, a verbally, and sometimes physically, abusive man, who kept the family hanging by monetary threads, as he doled out as little as possible in order for them to survive, and meet the essentials of food, clothing and shelter. He spent most of his earnings in pubs. His own father earned a living as a beggar in New York. This didn’t stop Bernstein’s mother from her goals and dreams.

“DREAMS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN OUR LIVES IN THOSE EARLY days in England. Our mother invented them for us to make up for all the things we lacked and to give us some hope for the future. Perhaps, also, it was for herself, to escape the miseries she had to endure, which were caused chiefly by my father, who cared little about his family.”

Bernstein’s mother had a dream, a dream to move to America and make a better life for herself and her children. When they were sent tickets (anonymously) to emigrate, she didn’t hesitate to leave. She envisioned a new beginning, a life of opportunity.

Without those tickets, and subsequent events, Bernstein would never have met his beloved wife, Ruby. They were married for 67-years, before her death in 2002. Their courtship and romance is deeply touching.

Although 98-years in age, Bernstein’s mind is as cognizant as that of a much younger person. His wit, poignancy and incredible word paintings fill the pages of “The Dream“, flowing from one scenario to the next. Bernstein’s zest for life is apparent throughout the book. He brings us not only a compelling memoir, but an accounting of a dysfunctional family, within the confines of Chicago and New York during the 1920s and 1930s. “The Dream” is an inspiration to all of us, each sentence written with emotion, strength, eloquence and brilliance. Harry Bernstein, himself, is an inspiration to all of us.

If you read “The Invisible Wall“, you must read “The Dream“. It will not disappoint you. If you didn’t read “The Invisible Wall“, I suggest you do so, but in any event, definitely read “The Dream“.

I personally own and have read this book.

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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved - No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.