Purim in Jerusalem

March 14, 2006 8:04 AM

Purim in Jerusalem: An exhibit of photographs by the late Yankl Conzen, currently on display at The Jewish Theological Seminary (NYC) in recognition of the Jewish festival of Purim (March 13-14, 2006), which features 45 works from the late 1990s depicting children from Jerusalem's Orthodox Me'ah She'arim neighborhood dressed for Purim celebrations:

"Conzen's photographs offer an unflinching look at children in military and police uniforms, princess outfits, masks, and more traditional roles like Esther and Mordecai. Others mimic their elders with fake beards, long black coats, and wide-brimmed hats. Some are smiling, but many appear troubled. In effect, they serve as a microcosm of childhood itself, with its rapid emotional swings among fear, sadness, and happiness."
posted by naxosaxur (15 comments total)

If it's Purim, then they're drunk. Every one of them.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:18 AM on March 14, 2006

GET OUT
posted by naxosaxur at 8:33 AM on March 14, 2006

Thanks for the shalach manot, ns!

Purim is one of the things I really miss about living in Israel. Just not the same here.
posted by kosem at 8:44 AM on March 14, 2006

Thanks naxosaxur! What great photos.

פורים שמח לכל מטאפילטר
posted by felix betachat at 8:44 AM on March 14, 2006

Thanks for the heads-up, naxosaxur. So tonight is full moon? - I was thinking so last night when I looked up in the sky.

I like how some religious holidays persist in being unruly. Given the drinking and masquerading elements, maybe Purim has roots in a spring equinoctal new year festival that has been displaced into the lunar calendar (c.f. Easter in the lunar calendar, and Now Ruz in the solar calendar).
posted by carter at 9:11 AM on March 14, 2006

Cooking Hamantashen: The First Thousand Ears (via)
posted by matteo at 9:17 AM on March 14, 2006

felix, sebaba!
posted by naxosaxur at 9:17 AM on March 14, 2006

פורים שמח לפליקס וכולם.
posted by ori at 9:42 AM on March 14, 2006

"Conzen's photographs offer an unflinching look at....

Does anyone ever offer a "flinching" look at something? I'd like to know what a flinching look looks like.
posted by rhymer at 9:44 AM on March 14, 2006

The recently started blog Balashon ("investigates language - modern and classic Hebrew, slang, Yiddish, Aramaic, Yeshivish, and more - with an eye on etymology") has a nice Purim post.
posted by languagehat at 12:56 PM on March 14, 2006

Oy! Make that Purim post. Sorry.
posted by languagehat at 12:57 PM on March 14, 2006

Does anyone ever offer a "flinching" look at something? I'd like to know what a flinching look looks like. -by rhymer

Your wish is my command.


posted by dejah420 at 1:11 PM on March 14, 2006

*flinches*

anyway:

Download Your Purim Torah Today, and Save!
posted by matteo at 1:19 PM on March 14, 2006

That was great. Purim is so much fun. Thank you naxosaxur.
posted by caddis at 3:24 PM on March 14, 2006

Thank you matteo. I just flinched.
posted by rhymer at 1:17 AM on March 15, 2006