Kosher Bookworm: A picture’s worth... a good Father’s Day gift

For many years I found that the time honored adage, “A

picture is worth a thousand words” to be a fascinating concept that accurately reflects the eloquent and effective expression of the imagery that could only help in the effective teaching of the history

of our people.

In the book, “A Timeless People: Photo Albums of American Jewish Life” [Gefen Publishing House, 2011] by Saul Landa, we have in one volume

a photo essay of American Jewish history that brings

to reality an accurate portrayal of the above cited adage.

Designed by one of Israel’s most talented graphic designers S. Kim Glassman, we find in this work over a thousand pictures, each representing over a thousand words and ideas reflecting a photographic history of 18 metropolitan areas spanning from time immemorial unto this day.

This unique photo essay album of most major American metropolitan areas from coast to coast reflects an American Jewish religious-centered history that goes right to the heart of what has become of American Jewry through the eyes of the original talented photo lens and mind’s eye of both Dr. Landa’s and Ms. Glassman’s choice of pictures.

The result is a work that graphically demonstrates what truly involved the reality of the many experiences of millions of Jews who had arrived upon these blessed shores at great personal peril fleeing both religious hatred and economic deprivation only to face a fearful uncertainty half way around the world.

By just looking intently at the pictures of these people as portrayed herein I see their fears and hopes which no verse or prose can accurately express. These pictures are framed by the clothing styles and physical surroundings of that era thus giving a further dimension to these people’s total experiences.

When I look at the picture of each person I look deep into each one of their eyes. The eyes tell me lot; they define all the emotion that further defines their frame of mind.

Eyes reflect the soul and the wordless passion that lay hidden behind the blank stare of a facial mask’s expression. This was truly a most haunting, as

well as chastening, experience. In the years to come no

effective teaching of American Jewish history will be