Photographer Ira Berger takes a visual journey through Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the center of gravity for the Hasidic Jewish community that originated in the small town of Lubavitch of Old Russia. The movement emphasizes “Chabad,” an acronym for “Chochmoh, Binah, Da’at,” meaning wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.
The photos start with the Torah‘s journeys through the life of the community. Writer David Van Biema illuminates, “In a synagogue, each time a Torah scroll is removed from the shelter of the ark, the congregation says a blessing before reading it. The prayer ends, ‘Blessed are You Lord who gives the Torah.’ The Jews of Crown Heights will tell you to note the present tense.” Sections on the cycle of life and community portraits follow.
The well-crafted book ends at the sacred graveyard and The Rebbe. The visual representation is full of surprises about the life of the Lubavitchers. Berger, whose sharp eyes were wielded as photo editor at People magazine, will discuss his crossing of the borders into the Chabad community at a book signing on Thursday evening.
