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Diskin Orphanage, Jerusalem
Tsadok Bassan
1920–1929
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The pioneer Jerusalem photographer Tsadok Bassan was born in the Old City into a religious Zionist family. He received a yeshiva education and acquired informally a hands-on knowledge of photography. At age eighteen, with the aid of his family, he purchased a photography studio in the Old City. He became, in effect, the “court photographer” of the Old Yishuv, photographing their institutions and daily life. He worked for many of the city’s Jewish charities, photographing their work, often for fund-raising purposes in the diaspora.
On Saturdays, and on unusually busy days when my father could not take the time to come home to the noon dinner, it became my duty to take his midday meal down to him, very carefully packed in a large…
Every householder is required to have his son taught in school at least until he is twelve years old. He must take care of him and pay his tuition as much as he can afford. If he is unable to pay, he…