Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015

03:00 PM – 04:00 PM
US/Central

A three-part series presented by storyteller Rabbi Dan Gordon, Temple Beth Torah, in conjunction with the exhibition "Roman Vishniac Rediscovered"

The work of Russian-born photographer Roman Vishniac (1897–1990) spans more than 50 years. Still silence tells part of the story, inviting us to fill in the blanks with questions: What was life like on the bustling streets and in the crowded synagogues of Eastern Europe's shtetls (villages)? What tragedies struck those in wartime Germany, and were there any miracles to celebrate? After the dust settled, as gravestones were laid, what happened to people who were displaced and dispossessed?

In this three-part series (October 18, November 15, December 20), celebrated storyteller Rabbi Dan Gordon weaves magical and touching tales that bring Vishniac’s photographs to life. Traditional folklore blends with real-life, personal narratives to transport you to the shtetls of Eastern Europe, the conflicted streets of wartime Germany, and feelings of optimism in post-World War II America.

Image:Roman Vishniac, Sara, sitting in bed in a basement dwelling, with stenciled flowers above her head, Warsaw, c. 1935–37, platinum print. © Mara Vishniac Kohn, courtesy International Center of Photography