Keeping the Faith
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Faith in its many forms is the subject of an exhibit of photographs currently on display at the Brooklyn Public Library. Diversity of Devotion: Celebrating New York’s Spiritual Harmony features some 60 works by 36 photographers. The images portray more than 27 different religions — not only those familiar to Americans, but also lesser-known faiths such as Voodou, Falun Gong, Wicca, Rastafari and Sikh. Originally conceived as a response to religious tensions resulting from the events of September 11, 2001, the exhibit began as a photo-documentary competition. The Brooklyn Public Library show includes a photograph of Rabbi Levy and Rabbi Eliyahu of Congregation Beth Elohim in Queens (above), taken by photographer and Forward contributor Julian Voloj. The work was drawn from Voloj’s series of photos on black Jews in America.
Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library, Grand Army Plaza; through April 19. (718-230-2100 or www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org)
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
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