History mystery

I did not appreciate history. I did not find it interesting. My father in his younger days also did not appreciate history, did not find it interesting. Later it became an obsession to him. Now I love reading about those who were like us or who were very different. I realize how vital it is to know where we have come from in order to know where we are headed.

I photograph Bar Mitzvahs in the religious community where that day represents an identity that is alive and that has passionately persisted through inhumane attempts to crush it. The party and pictures are one small example of the over-arching force that links them with the generations of their ancestors who knew where they were from and where they were going.

But I also photograph young Jewish men whose Bar Mitzvahs are just a celebration of what — they aren’t sure, because they are totally unaware of their history.

Teachers should tie the past to the present. Ancient history is important, but recent history is vital. Learning the intricacies of the last 800 years of Jewish history, may be more important than learning the first 800!

To a Bar Mitavah boy it can seems like the road has vanished or is irrelevant. Attempts at outreach have not succeeded in Reform Jews appreciating their identity. I think that is because the emphasis has been on explaining all the religious customs, and placing the history on the back burner. History can sometimes light a stronger fire in someone who may not want to focus as much on faith as their teachers do. Faith can come in time. But history is all ready, just waiting to be taught, touched and talked about. History can inspire!

A goal should be to teach unaffiliated and Reform Jews who admit to having no knowledge or interest in Jewish history, enough for them to develop interest.

Irish, Italians and Greeks are proud to be Americans but also value their roots and identity as Irish, Italian or Greek. We should not sit back as other Jews distant themselves from their roots, their identity or their homeland as Jews.