honorable mention
Thomas Kast Kast switzerland
title
The Pilgrimage
After the Holocaust, the remnants of the Lelow Jewish cemetery were destroyed, and a communal cooperative’s shop was built in its place. The surviving traces of Lelow’s Jewry were either forgotten about or purposefully dismantled.
Things changed only recently; at the initiative of the Nissenbaum Family Foundation, extensive research was able to confirm Biderman’s remains. Finally, in 2008 the area of the former cemetery was handed over to the Jewish community in Katowice, following the erection of the new tomb.
The first Hassidic pilgrimage to Lelow consisted of only a few individuals. In 2020, several hundred arrived in Lelow, which is part of a trend that has given rise to a robust tourist industry.
The Hassidic movement places emphasis on an intimate connection with God through joy. Although the anniversary of Biderman’s death does invoke sombre introspection, it is also a cause for a celebration of his persona and his legacy, with plenty of singing and dancing.
back to gallery
entry description
Once a year, the Hassidic Jews from Israel, Eastern Europe and the US gather at the tomb of David Biderman — the founder of the Hassidic Lelover dynasty, on the anniversary of his death.After the Holocaust, the remnants of the Lelow Jewish cemetery were destroyed, and a communal cooperative’s shop was built in its place. The surviving traces of Lelow’s Jewry were either forgotten about or purposefully dismantled.
Things changed only recently; at the initiative of the Nissenbaum Family Foundation, extensive research was able to confirm Biderman’s remains. Finally, in 2008 the area of the former cemetery was handed over to the Jewish community in Katowice, following the erection of the new tomb.
The first Hassidic pilgrimage to Lelow consisted of only a few individuals. In 2020, several hundred arrived in Lelow, which is part of a trend that has given rise to a robust tourist industry.
The Hassidic movement places emphasis on an intimate connection with God through joy. Although the anniversary of Biderman’s death does invoke sombre introspection, it is also a cause for a celebration of his persona and his legacy, with plenty of singing and dancing.
about the photographer
I'm an award-winning photographer and fine artist based in Zurich, Switzerland. My photographic interests include: photojournalism, travel and street photography and a bit of landscape. I hold a PhD in fine arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland. I spent a big part of my life in Israel, where I taught graphic design, photography and illustration at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design and other Israeli colleges.back to gallery
