Stamford day school hosts photographic exhibition celebrating Jerusalem

By Judie Jacobson

“It’s like looking at a woman you are in love with and seeing no flaws,” says the renowned Israeli photographer Sharon Gabay in describing the at once ancient and modern city of Jerusalem.

Gabay should know.

A 15th-generation Jerusalemite, the award-winning photographer continually uses his art to tell the timeless story of the eternal capital of the Jewish people. Specializing in street photography, he places an emphasis on the city’s multi-cultural inhabitants and diverse way of life.

Now, to mark the year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, Gabay’s powerful collection of photos depicting life in Jerusalem have been made into a 50-photo exhibit by Im Tirzu, the largest grassroots Zionist movement in Israel that seeks to play a key role in the development of the next generation of Zionist leaders of Israel. In December 2016, “Jerusalem Now & Forever,” was unveiled in the Knesset and, in May 2017 it was displayed in two events on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Currently on tour throughout North America, “Jerusalem Now & Forever” will be on display at the Bi-Cultur

al Day School in Stamford for several weeks beginning October 17. The school’s exhibit will be open to the public Tuesday, Oct. 17 and Thursday, Oct. 19, 4:30 – 9 p.m.

“An enduring love of Israel is pervasive in all that we do here at Bi-Cultural,” says Rabbi Tzvi Bernstein, the school’s Dean who is coordinating the effort to bring the exhibit to the school. “Israel is the religious and spiritual capital for the Jewish people and Jerusalem is at the heart of its sanctity. The reunification of Jerusalem and recapture of Har Habayit in 1967 was and remains one of the greatest revealed miracles in modern Jewish history. Hosting this beautiful photo exhibit captures for our students the essence of religious and cultural life in Jerusalem and the beauty of modern Jewish leadership under which respect is given to people of all faiths and nationalities.”

At the unveiling of the exhibit at the Knesset last December, David Hatchwell of the funding source OurCrowd noted the dual facets of Jerusalem that make the exhibit special.

“I think people will be surprised initially because this exhibition shows that Jerusalem is a normal and unique city,” he said.

“Normal because people live and create every day; and unique because this is a city of three major monotheistic religions that actually live together harmoniously — more harmoniously than people think. This exhibition is special because it shows what Jerusalem is all about.”

Printed on glass to symbolize both the beauty and fragility of the city, the 50 photos included in Jerusalem Now & Forever depict what Gabay calls “the true face of Jerusalem.”

The grandson of Irgun fighter Ya’akov Mizrahi and the great-grandson of former chief rabbi of Jerusalem’s Old City, Rabbi Eliezer Gabay, Sharon Gabay has received numerous awards for his artwork, which has been featured in exhibits throughout the world. To coincide with Israel’s 69th Independence Day this past May, Gabay also published a book of photographs of Jerusalem taken from every possible angle, with unique image processing. Each photo in Yerushalayim – Thisa Kabin Shel Yofi (Jerusalem – Nine Portions of Beauty), includes a Bible verse.

“I’m very connected to tradition, to Judaism, to the people of Israel and to the Land of Israel. I am a real Zionist,” Gabay says, explaining that the verses were matched on different levels. “There are simpler levels, about a journey and a picture of the train, and there are slightly deeper levels. Whoever delves into Judaism will understand.”

Bi-Cultural Day School is located at 2186 High Ridge Road in Stamford. For more information contact Rachel Cohen at recohen@bcds.org and (203) 329-2186 x1412.