20 interesting photos about the life of Orthodox Jews

Jews are certainly one of the most unusual and unique peoples on our planet. Neither the absence of their own state for many centuries, nor the settlement around the world, nor the persecution and the huge number of tragedies that fell upon this nation, could not destroy its authenticity, muffle the call of blood and make the Jews forget about their roots, traditions and customs of their fathers .

Representatives of this nationality with trepidation and respect for their own history and the incredible number of rituals associated with Judaism and originating in the distant past. Even after several thousand years, living in the 21st century, they manage to build around themselves a separate, isolated, completely different world with their laws, rules and way of life. An ordinary person has no access to this world.

An Israeli photographer, Yakov Naumi, who grew up among the Haredim (Orthodox Jews) and received a traditional religious education, created a wonderful photo project about the life of his comrades-in-arms in order to at least slightly open this mysterious veil of their lives. Naumi admits that shooting was often difficult, because some participants in the rituals and events did not perceive the person with the camera as friendly, skeptical, and sometimes even aggressive.

Mitzvah dance - a wedding dance in which the rabbi and male relatives of the bride participate. Everyone holds on to the end of the rope so as not to touch the bride (this is forbidden by the Torah).

Preparation for kaparot, a ritual on the eve of Yom Kippur (Doomsday). It is believed that the sins of the past year are passed on to the chicken, after which the feathered is grabbed by the paws and waving it over his head.

A man lies in the grave after the body was removed from it. It is believed that this ritual prolongs life.

A ritual of flagellation with a leather strap in front of Yom Kippur (Doomsday). This is a symbolic punishment for the sins of the past year.

Preparing for an orthodox Jewish wedding.

Dance of the bride and groom.

Tashlikh ritual ("throwing"). Participants throw crumbs of bread into the water, thereby symbolizing the deliverance from sins in Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year).

A traditional male dance in honor of the Purim holiday (a holiday commemorating the salvation of Jews living in the territory of the Persian Empire).

The traditional ransom of the first-born, when the child is surrounded with silver coins (the first boy born to a Jewish mother should be redeemed by the father of the child from the cohen 30 days after birth in memory of the Egyptian execution, when God killed all the babies of the country of the pharaoh. On the first-born girls, the rule does not apply).

Orthodox Jews are ordered to walk along the street in clothes that cover all parts of their bodies.

Rabbi performs mitzvah dance at a wedding.

Thousands of orthodox at the wedding of the grandson of a famous rabbi.

Children celebrate Shavuot - the day of the giving of the Torah.

The holiday of Lag ba Omer, during which it is customary to light bonfires throughout the country.

Prayer for Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). At this time, according to tradition, one should leave the house and live in a sukkah (tent, booth or hut), recalling the wandering of Jews in the Sinai desert. When praying, it is customary to hold in your hands a lulav (date palm branch), etrog (citrus fruit), adas (willow) and myrtle.

Boy at the wedding of the grandson of the famous rabbi.

Haredim harvest wheat using sickles. They will keep it for a whole year, and then make matzo for Passover.

The rule of redemption of the firstborn also applies to cattle. This is one of the 613 commandments of the Torah. Animals are decorated with pearls and sparkles.