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January 01, 2010
Friday Fotos: The Bostoner Rebbe Edition
Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Horowitz, z'l, known as the Bostoner Rebbe. July 3, 1921 - December 5, 2009. The first American born Chassidic Rabbi.
A few months before Karen and I were married in 1977, we drove to Boston so I could meet one of Karen's closest friends.
It was one of those get-the-best-friend's-approval gigs.
Not too much pressure for yours truly.
Naturally, the day we drove, a Friday, there was a ferocious New England snowstorm. With visibility close to zero, we limped into the friend's home about 45 seconds before Shabbat.
Karen's friend and her husband were active members of The Bostoner Rebbe's congregation.
In addition, Karen's father Rabbi Pinchas Tzvi Singer z'l and the Bostoner Rebbe z'l were old friends who were chavrusah, study partners, when they were both young students at Yeshiva Torah Vodass.
On Sunday, before making our way back to New York, Karen and I were granted a private audience with The Rebbe. Rabbi Horowitz spoke fondly of his friendship with Karen's father. He quizzed me about my plans to be a Hollywood screenwriter. Rather than discourage my career choice, The Rebbe told me that it was a perfect opportunity to illuminate Judaism.
Gracious, witty and wise, Rabbi Horowitz kindly gave us a pre-wedding b'racha, a blessing, which we have always treasured.
The Rebbe also agreed to sit for a portrait.
In those days I worked with a Nikon SLR, and shot almost exclusively in b & w.
I asked The Rebbe to sit at his desk where there was a spray of soft winter light. The Rebbe continued talking to Karen while I snapped off just three shots, all from the same low angle. The Rebbe is relaxed but he's also intensely focused on what's going on outside the frame. You get the feeling that he's just about to smile. It's a lovely moment that comes close to capturing this fine man's essence.
Years later, before we went into production on A Stranger Among Us, I showed this picture to director Sidney Lumet and said: “This is what a Rebbe looks like.”
Sidney sent the picture to wardrobe and make-up.
The Rebbe in the movie, played by Lee Richardson, looks remarkably like The Bostoner Rebbe.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a peaceful Shabbat filled with b'rachas.
And if you live in Israel, A Stranger Among Us will be screened next week at The Jerusalem Cinematheque.
Melanie Griffith investigates a murder in New York's diamond district, A Stranger Among Us. Eric Thal, left, as Ariel and Lee Richardson, center, as The Rebbe.
And hey, my post Suicide in Slow Motion won the First Place, Watcher Of Weasels Non-council Award. Read all the amazing submissions.
From Big Government, here are The Most Underreported Stories of 2009.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at January 1, 2010 07:24 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
I'm lovin' that photo of the Rebbe, Robert. I guess he was a forward thinker, being American-born and all, to give you the green light for your future career. What a blessing.
Have a good Shabbos, and as Mickey Rooney -- as Andy Hardy -- might've said, "Have a swell New Year."
Posted by: Pearl at January 1, 2010 09:42 AM
Good anecdote, and a nice photo. Gut Shabbos.
Posted by: kishke at January 1, 2010 10:18 AM
Congratulations on your award.
Posted by: PCD at January 1, 2010 11:33 AM
I think B & W shooting is almost a lost art. I guess Annie Liebowitz has a well-deserved reputation for her B & W work but then in reading of her quest for the perfect shot she is near bankrupcy.
I think she has had to sell the rights to some of her photos.
I read that Ansel Adams, when shooting in Yosemite, would sometimes wait 3 days for just the right lighting. For 1 shot.
Compare that to the digital world today. 100 shots of a mediocre scene (lighting, framing) vs. one that the photographer's mind saw - and captured.
I have about 2,000 B & W photos I shot in Europe while in the Army in the early 1970s. When I was back at my isolated barracks the Army had 3 Leitz enlargers for my use. And a pack of Agfa 8x10 was maybe $2 - I was in photographer's hog heaven (perhaps a bad analogy for this site? ;-) )
The best pictures of mine - like a Rhine village or Greek monastery - look timeless. They could have been shot 100s of years ago. Or yesterday. And I am not ashamed to admit that a few of my best were accidental in timing - something appeared unexpectedly that ended up "making" the photo.
Your shot of the Rebee has this timeless quality.
Posted by: Bill Brandt at January 1, 2010 11:56 PM
Bill and Robert,
you both bring up great memories ...
i used to shoot exclusively in B&W, and after pushing Kodak ASA 400 to 1600 ASA, and fulfilling administration photography rules of never using flash during speeches or lectures, eventually got to be photography editor of the school paper
then i had a darkroom all to myself after hours, with a cozy bright Wratten yellow-amber safe light, Leitz enlarger, and polycontrast F paper with a full line of filters,
although for portrait work, i used slow film and an 85 mm lens, and printed on matte paper
(2 minutes in fixer for archival quality ;-) )
Great natural Portrait of the Bostoner Rebbe, ZT"L
Posted by: exdemexlib at January 3, 2010 05:11 PM