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Photographer’s Note

When a torah is finished it marks a great accomplishment and mitsvah and will be marked by communal festivities known as a siyyum hatorah (completion of the torah).

Amidst song and dance the new sefer torah covered by a chupa (canopy - usually a tallit suspended by four poles) is brought to the synagogue.

Various people could be selected to carry the new torah, the donor, the rabbi, the scribe, a kohen or levi (to symbolise the process when King David bought the Ark into the Temple).

At the entrance to the synagogue a person holding one, three (symbolising kadosh kadosh kadosh (holy holy holy [is the Lord of Hosts) or kohanim, levi'im and yisraelim, or torah, avodah (service) and gemilut chassidim (good deeds)) or indeed all of the sifrey torah greet the new torah and excerpt it towards the ark.
If not all the sifrey torah are out the remainder are removed from the ark.
The shema is chanted.

All the sifrey torah encircle the bimah (platform) and the new sefer torah is then opened and laid on a surface for completion.

based on: www.sofer.co.uk

At the shot: two "old" Sefer Torah are welcoming new one in the front of the Remuh Synagogue, Cracow. Home.

dawekato has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dawekato (1988) 2009-04-28 17:59

Wonderful composition and low-angle POV. Were you lying on the ground in front of them? Terrific facial expressions caught in mid movement. You have captured the joy and spirituality. Good sharpness. An excellent "moment in time" shot.

sayeed_rahman (2275) 2009-04-28 21:56

Hello Agnieszka

You were on your knees for this one eh ? really a part of the scene...thats waht people/street photography is all about..i can hear them reciting the Torah LOUDLY :))

Great job and well presented my friend

Cheers
sayeed

MrCairo (4681) 2009-04-28 22:10

Jakze Oni te zwoje trzymaja ! Z jaka troska tula je do siebie. I widac ten ciezar !

A w duzych sklepach mozna wlasnie teraz kupic dwupak - konsole Sony z pieknie przywiazana do niej Biblia - wstyd.

Doskonale zdjecie, dobitnie pozycjonujace.

Pozdrawiam
W.

fyrste (968) 2009-04-29 6:38

Agnieszko,

Wsytarczy krotko napisac - REWELACJA! Super uzycie szerokiego kata i ujecie pelne pasji. Szczerze gratuluje!

brandstaetter (14114) 2009-04-29 7:54

Hi Agnieszka,
so important that you are here...the people of the world need to understand and to know each other !
Thanks for your unique contributions, no sunset pic could be more beautiful.
Deep respect, Chris

KevRyan (22378) 2009-04-30 2:00

I like this for the cultural and historical reference - for the 'hard' documentary evidence of the photograph - but I appreciate it fully for the 'soft' documentary evidence of their emotion and expression - a shot which makes one thing again about the significance of humanity.

bw Kev

batalay (20920) 2009-05-06 13:43

Hi Agnieszka,

What an astonishing vantage point you had to capture this fabulous shot — a triple portrait of the three devout hasidim. The composition, colors and resolution cannot be better. The note is highly informative, as usual. I plan to share this image with good friends. What a shame the sounds of the process cannot be provided.

Warm regards,

Bulent

powoj (1655) 2009-05-13 14:16

Witaj ponownie,
Techniczny myk z punktem widzenia od dołu i szerokim kątem ze stosowną głębią ostrości, nadają tej ceremonii nastrój dynamizmu, mistycyzmu, pewnej nawet egzotyki. Pietyzm wykonania.