A photographer looking for the crown jewel of his photo project found taking an image of Orthodox Jews more complicated than at first thought, the New York Times reports.
Richard Renaldi, referred to as “a matchmaker for tense times” by the Times, has been working on a photography project in which he captures complete strangers posing together while touching, as if they were intimates.
On a recent venture into Williamsburg, Brooklyn, he tried to cajole Orthodox Jews into taking part in the project, but he was met with stiff resistance until one Abraham Weiss stopped to look at Renaldi’s camera. Renaldi made his best pitch, but Weiss, citing possible censure from his fellow Chasidim, ultimately declined.
Renaldi told the Times he wasn’t discouraged by the rejection. “It took me three years to get a Muslim woman,” he said. In six years, Mr. Renaldi said, “I’ve only had one time when I couldn’t get a shot.”
Weiss suggested Renaldi go to Crown Heights or Borough Park, where “they’re more open.” Renaldi took that advice and was rewarded for it: he immediately met a 24-year-old Yeshiva student from the Chabad-Lubavitch movement named Shalom Lasker —who said in halting English: “No problem. Only men, right?”
Within ten minutes the shot had been captured with him close to Jeff Desire, a worker in a local fish market, and photographer Renaldi, once again having found himself overcoming the odds, was able to get his shot.
the whole point is that they are different but together
Couldn’t they both at least wear the same color shirt?
peace and harmany is always nice to see
There is a saying “live and let live”. If this picture creates no harm, yet it may change the view of one black person on how he thought of us, and now has a understanding that “we are nice and approachable”, is that “pointless now” ? The domino effect of kindness reaches beyond our imagination..
I know shalom well. He is an excellent bochur. good learner nigleh and chassidus. chassidishe bochur. and well balanced.
I love this picture, and happen to think that it is extremely meaningful. What a lovely job. This def has the potential to make people more respectful of each other. Good Job!!!!!!
This Bochur made a Kiddush Hashem.
He looks like a very adele, and Chassidisher Bochur.
Interesting article and good photo.
I shake hands and talk with very many locals in Crown Heights every week. I already have over 40 emails from my efforts, disseminating ‘The 7 Noahide Laws.’
In three years I’ve spoken to hundreds of people here — really: streets, Lincoln Terrace Park (Rochester Pk), local public library.
I’m hoping to restart my class but I need help. If interested contact: bhoffinger@aol.com
Ye, normalcy
@#2
Certain things never change I see.
I think its both meaningless and nice! Nice does not have to carry any profound “meaning” or depth…
I think its both meaningless and nice! Nice does not have to carry any profound “meaning” or depth…
After the riots when Mayor Dinkins came to the Rebbe, this is what he heard the Rebbe saying.
“We are all the children of G-d”
Insert insult to #2 based on insult to #1 because #x is better than both. Zing! We are Chassidim of the Rebbe!.
He is a very chasideshe bocher.
Your comment proves that there is hope for humankind.
That pose is awkward as all heck.
Really? because I happen to think its a meaningless thing
I think this is a nice thing.