Jordan Nahmias: A photographer who captures light

Jordan Nahmias is a Toronto-based lawyer who, when he has time, photographs, teaches yoga, and co-directs the Open Roof Festival for film and music in Toronto.

He started photographing on his solo backpacking trip to Europe after graduation from university in 2005. Having always been involved in creating art, the feedback surprised Jordan when he arrived home that his pictures were well liked. After he broke that camera, he bought his first SLR and photography occupied many hours. It was over the course of a 2008 semester exchange in Hong Kong that Jordan became very serious about photography. He started selling his works upon returning from Asia, and shortly thereafter started his own photography business selling art works as well as photographing commercially and on commissions.
“I love photography because it is so information-rich. It is unbelievable the amount of information that can be found in any piece of visual art, or otherwise. I love the fact that when I look at my photos, and those of others, I know there is a very serious story going on in that image. It doesn’t matter what the specific subject matter is – there is not only the history of the content, but the history of the photographer contained within that image. Knowing that, when I take a picture, I also know that I am conveying a message from myself at the same time. It’s a pretty cool experience.”

“My subject matter is usually found. In that, I take myself somewhere and use what’s around me. Of course, I’ve shot weddings, engagements, family portraits, and so on, but I try very hard not to prepare too much. The improvisational aspect of photography, at least the way I try to do it, is key. So, when I go on a trip and shoot journalistic or travel work (which is really my favourite) I just shoot what’s around me – people, faces, architecture, flora, fauna – you name it. When its free flowing like that, there isn’t much thought beyond ‘That looks really good, I want that on film,’ and that can be very freeing and relaxing.”

“For everything though, the inspiration for me is generally lighting, story and culture. Most of my favourite pieces are travel or journalistic pieces. They can be portraits or simply settings, but in all of them the first thing that struck me about what I saw was light. I mean, that’s what photography is all about at its core. But, the light has to interact with the objects in my shots so that there is a story told – usually about the culture or history of the subject matter – and acknowledging the history (told or untold) of some things is really inspiring. It makes you realize how small you are in such a massive and ancient world and universe.”

All photos copyright Jordan Nahmias. 

Photo of Jordan Nahmias copyright Jessica Blaine Smith

Shame on us? The top 3 Jews in the world today making us look bad!

By: Dave Goodman

Now is it just me, or for every time you hear about high profile Jew getting booked on criminal acts you cringe?  I cringe for multiple reasons.  Firstly, the world has a tendency to hold our people to a higher standard, so naturally, the 'people of the book' cannot be the ones committing egregious illegal activity right?  Second, the efforts of so many Jews to help remedy the world of so many injustices are  overshadowed by the negligent behaviours of a select few.  Last, if you are a Jew in a position of great power, how can you be so stupid to jeopardize the opportunity you've been given?  

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Head of the International Monetary Fund made global headlines after being charged with brutal sexual assault of a hotel maid in 2011.

Every culture and ethnicity has stereotypes that characterize their people to a certain degree, but only someone's ignorance and bigotry will perpetuate these stereotypes.  Is it part of our sociological mindset to categorize an entire people by the acts of a select few?  Are all Muslims potential terrorists?  Are all Catholics anti-Abortion or anti-Gay marriage?  Are all Jews greedy and untrustworthy?  Certainly not!  But it is hard to defend a people when the selfish and vile acts of these select few people are coupled with stereotypes that tarnish an entire people's image.

Moshe Katsav, the 8th Israeli President was convicted of 2 counts of rape in 2010.

The Moshe Katsav rape case was an amazing response by the Israeli justice system that spoke on behalf of all Jews that we will not tolerate such disgusting acts regardless of one's position in society.  This was definitely a statement, however, one of the worst criminal acts, rape, was committed by one of Israel's most powerful people...not good.

Bernard Madoff, former financial advisor plead guilty to 11 Federal felonies  and sentenced to 150 years in prison in 2009 after his Ponzi scheme stole billions from charities, philanthropists, friends and clients that trusted him for years. 

The Kingpin of causing shame to our Jewish people and setting the stereotype back hundreds of years in my personal opinion would have to be Madoff.  His multi-billion dollar ponzi scheme will go down in history as the largest case of fraud by any one individual.  Why did that individual have to be Jewish?!

When I look back to all the Jewish criminal acts of my lifetime, these 3 stand out as receiving the most global attention and condemnation.  Feel free to comment about other instances where a Jew MISrepresented our people with their lunacy.  Good riddance. 

Capture Series: Erin Chesney, Photographer inspired by March of the Living

By Yehezkel Lipinsky 

Erin Chesney is a fantastic photographer. I have used her for many of my own projects and I enjoy her work immensely. I asked her to contribute to our Capture Series: a focus on young Jewish photographers. Here is what she has to say: 

"In the spring of 2009, just prior to venturing on an experience of a lifetime, the March of the Living, I attended a photography seminar organized by Danny Richmond and led by a fantastic photographer, Yuri Dojc.  Although I was not a huge photography fanatic, I really wanted the pictures that I would be taking in Poland and Israel to properly represent the strong emotions that I knew I was bound to feel.  Yuri explained to us that on a trip like this, we were not to be tourists who snap a thousand pictures a minute, without thinking.  Rather, we were to tell a story in each picture we took.  These words resonate with me to this day and the pictures that I brought home with me from those emotional two weeks were not only breathtaking, but helped me discover that I had a true passion for photography.

Since then, I have tried to stay true to Yuri's advice and with ever picture I take, I try to tell a story.  Some of these stories include that of the incredible children at the JCC's Centre Camp, the wonderful events that have taken place at Tannenbaum CHAT and a variety of worthy charities that continue to inspire me.  As well, my photography has allowed me to capture the stories of my own family and friends; prom, graduation, recitals, birthdays are all occasions that I am proud to enrich with my pictures.  I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to showcase my pictures in yearbooks, newsletters and school newspapers.

I love photography and the ability to capture the amazing stories that are in our community." 

Erin's work is incredible. Her story showcases how incredible she is and her spirit and enthusiasm is reflected in all the work she does. 

Jewish Personalities painted by Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol is argued to be the most prolific artist of the second half of the 20^th century. He is known for his famous, vibrant colour paintings of Marilyn Manroe and Campbell’s Soup cans. However, in 1980, he painted something dramatically different entitled, “Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century”. Why did he do this? Art dealer Ronald Feldman had the idea which came to him from an Israeli art dealer who wanted paintings of Golda Meir. Eventually the idea unravelled into 10 Jews who impacted the 20^th Century. Feldman with Susan Morgenstein created the list and Warhol chose them for their interesting looks. So it might not be the perfect list of the best 20^th Century Jews. However, when one looks at the list, it is quite diverse with some interesting names one might not know.

When these paintings debuted to the world, they were ridiculed by the press. The Philadelphia Inquirer called it “Jewploitation” and Hilton Kramer in The New York Times said that “The way it exploits its Jewish subjects without showing the slightest grasp of their significance is offensive — or would be, anyway, if the artist had not already treated so many non-Jewish subjects in the same tawdry manner.” In hindsight however, these paintings have more meaning. Today, Andy Warhol is simply one of the most prolific painters of the 20^th century and his paintings might truly be a commentary on the mass media world. Warhol was utterly taken with the celebrity aura. These paintings have a highly superficial feeling to them. They convey something important. In the modern day, many of us know names of famous people but don’t really know why they are famous or have never looked at their work. In their superficial manner, these paintings comment on that societal trait. (new understanding from Richard Meyer from the Jewish Museum’s exhibit of Warhol’s Jews: 10 Portraits Reconsidered). 

Let’s take a look at some of these Jewish geniouses and why they are as such (in a phrase or two, just so you have something to talk about over cocktails).

FAMOUS JEWS- EXPLAINED
Sigmund Freud: father of psychoanalysis.

Gertrude Stein: Famous American writer and poet

Albert Einstein: Seen as founder of modern physics

Franz Kafka: Avant-garde artist

Sarah Bernhardt: Prolific actress

George Gershwin: Brilliant composer and songwriter

Golda Meir: First female Prime Minister of Israel

Louis Brandeis: First Jew to sit on the American Supreme Court

Martin Buber: Renowned theologian

Groucho, Chico and Harpo Marx: Famous comedic troupe

(Source for Warhol: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/arts/design/28warh.html)

Israel is a hotbed of Inspiration for American television

By Yehezkel Lipinsky 

We usually think that the world revolves around American Pop culture. Now, the Top 40 in America might have its hits playing in every country but even America needs its inspiration. And as the Wall Street Journal reports, the inspiration for American television is Israeli television. Many television shows currently on TV on in development are inspired by Israeli shows. Traffic Light a comedy which premiered this year (and was unforturnately cancelled as well) was based on the Israel show, Ramzor (traffic light). Ramzor is about three different men in three different stages of their relationship with their partners. Each one of them likes going back to a more “primordial guydom” as the Wall Street Journal calls it.

 

 Showtime is producing Homeland, another show based on Israel’s Hatufim, a show about three Israeli soldiers who finally return home after being prisoners of war in Syria for seventeen years. For the US version, CIA agent, Claire Danes is introduced and the prisoner of war was taken hostage in 2003 in Iraq. Israeli shows have been picked up in the past like HBO’s In Treatment which has its origins in the Israeli show, Be Tipul. Israel has a small market for television shows. Avi Nir, chief executive of one of Israel’s largest television companies worked to bring Israeli shows to the US market. But Israeli TV has become top notch, with Israeli producers accrediting that to the judgemental nature of Israeli society. "Socially speaking, Israelis are very, very judgmental," Nir said. Top notch quality is demanded. But, Judaism also seems to be the close connector with Hollywood executive and Israeli writers. The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles has taken some TV executives to Tel Aviv. As 24 executive producer, Howard Gordon said, “"Whatever culture of storytelling that might be specific to Jews and made them prominent in Hollywood makes it understandable that 8,000 or 9,000 miles away a lot of Jews in a small place would be good storytellers”. American television has taken foreign creations before, most notably from Britain but now Israel seems like the prime inspiration for writers. Ben Silverman, former co-chairman of NBC Universal remarked, “"It feels very much like a 51st state”. Israel is really on the rise in television.

Take a look at the following Israeli trailers and their American counterparts. 

RAMZOR: 

 

TRAFFIC LIGHT: 

 

HATUFIM: 

HOMELAND: 

What do you think of the shows? 

Comment below? 

Article source: Wall Street Journal 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704758904576188740968759616.html?mod=wsj_share_twitter  

Original link: nocamels.com 

MEGA EVENT T.O. 2011 - WHO'S COMING?

By: Melissa Zeller

Every year thousands of young Jewish adults are given the most generous life-changing gift: A FREE trip to Israel.  Yes, a FREE trip. Taglit-Birthright Israel's founders created this program to send thousands of young Jewish adults from all over the world to Israel in order to diminish the growing division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world, to strengthen the sense of solidarity among world Jewry and to strengthen participants personal Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people. This is an amazing organization and it is time Toronto celebrates all the good they are doing. 

On Thursday, August 11, 2011, the biggest Birthright celebration ever will hit Toronto - MEGA EVENT T.O. 2011. UJA’s Community Connect, the Birthright Israel Alumni Community and Magen Boys Entertainment are coming together to provide young adults with an unforgettable party to celebrate the past 11 years of Birthright Israel - the trip that has sent over 200,000 Jews to Israel for FREE. 

 

MEGA EVENT T.O. 2011 will be taking place at The Warehouse Event Venue (2-35 Carl Hall Road) with Canada's hottest DJ, DJ SKRATCH BASTID. There will be great entertainment, amazing Israeli food and a strong taste of Israeli culture

MEGA EVENT T.O. 2011 will also provide attendees with the opportunity to win a free trip to Israel courtesy of Air Canada. Buy a ticket and you are automatically entered into the draw to win. 

TWITTER COMPETITION: You can also win free tickets to the event through our Twitter competition! Just follow @jewcrewTO and then tweet why you are excited for the MEGA Event with the hashtag #MEGATO. 

This event promises to be the biggest Birthright reunion ever in Toronto. Come out and celebrate a trip that has changed, inspired and ignited a Jewish spirit in thousands. 

Don't miss out on an amazing night. Buy your tickets NOW!

http://www.feduja.org/evite/2011/2011_birthrightmegaevent/index2.html

SEE YOU THERE! 

ISRAEL MEGA EVENT PHOTOS

CoCo Photographer of the Week feat. Jackie Goldman

Every so often, here on The Jew Do, we want to focus on an amazing young budding Jewish photographer. Today, we look at Jackie Goldman (jackiegoldman7@hotmail.com). It's hard to believe that she only started roughly a year ago. Her photos are striking. She captures that stillness of a moment beautiful and can also illustrate the rushed, moving action through her lens as well. She is quite talented. We hope you enjoy the photos as much as we did. If you like them, comment below!