Alfons Himmelreich was an Israeli photographer, noted for his portraits of modern dancers. Born in Munich, Himmelreich settled in Tel Aviv in 1933, initially working as a carpenter before opening his own photography studio. In addition to his photographs of the new Israeli culture, Himmelreich made portraits of prominent figures, including David Ben-Gurion, Chaim Weizmann, and Moshe Sharett. Influenced by the clean, geometric aesthetic of Bauhaus, Himmelreich’s photographs are as elegant as they are documentary; they were exhibited internationally.
Józef Awin’s reconstruction of the synagogue in the Old Cemetery of Lwów/L’viv, featured here, reflects his clean geometricity and appreciation for Galician wooden synagogue architecture. The cemetery…
The frontispiece of this book of penitential prayers, printed in Amsterdam by David de Castro Tartas, proclaims the pro-Sabbatean beliefs that were then widespread in the Amsterdam Jewish community…
These silver, crown-shaped Torah finials engraved with an okra floral motif are from the Paradesi Synagogue in Kerala, India. A Hebrew inscription (divided into four parts) reads: “The honorable R…