The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
June 2015 back issue
photographs by Jacob Nachum
Jacob Nachum grew up in the city of Bnei Brak in Isreal, in an ultra-Orthodox home. He was educated at an ultra-
Orthodox Yeshiva.
He wanted to photograph the ultra-Orthodox rituals and customs that he had grown up with, not from the perspective
of being an ultra-Orthodox Jew himself but as if he was sitting on the outside and looking in.
At first, he found it hard to gain access to the fiercly private communities, but over time he won trust and was given
free rein to photograph them. Today he has reached the point where the communities themselves update him on
events and ask him to come and document them.
Jacob Nachum on Facebook
Hasidic Orthodox Jew lying on the grave of a long talisman.
Purim costume in the synagogue. Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from
Haman, who was planning to kill all the Jews.
A bride waiting for the moment when an ultra-Orthodox Rabbi dances with her at her wedding. The bride is covered to
retain her modesty and the separation between men and women.
Orthodox Jews dancing at a demonstration in Jerusalem against the government's intention to force the Israeli army to
recruit them.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews pray at Rav Ashi’s grave - the grave is a grave halved. Half of it is in the State of Israel, the other
is in Lebanon.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews pray and cry out ‘Hosanna’ whilst waving branches of a willow tree.
Ultra-Orthodox boy looks through people's legs at a Satmar wedding.
Hasidic Jews perform a show during the wedding of the daughter of their master Rebbe (teacher or mentor).
Extreme orthodox Jewish women clothed head to toe to keep their modesty and to not attract men sexually.
Hasidic Jews dancing at a celebration called 'Tish' during the Jewish holiday Purim.
Hasidic Jew dancing on a table called at a celebration called 'Tish' during the Jewish holiday Purim.
Hasidic Jews praying during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
A young bride and groom with fewer than 16 people at their wedding. After the wedding ceremony the bride and
groom are sent to a special room where they are alone for only a few minutes.
Orthodox Jews have a service called Ditch where they pray and throw bread to fish to cast off their sins.
Orthodox Jews at the funeral of one of the most important Rabbis of the twentieth century - Rabbi Elyashiv.
Orthodox boy watching Lag B'Omer bonfire using a piece of cardboard box to protect him from the heat of the fire.
In Judaism, the ritual of Pidyon Ha-Ben ("Redemption of the Son") is grounded in the Jewish concept that the first and
best things belong to God.
During the event of Tish Purim, a big fish is put before the Rebbe. There follows singing and praying and then the
Rebbe eats a little of the fish before the rest is divided up for the other thousands of Hasidim.
Hasidic Jews watching their Rabbi lighting Hanukkah candles.
