10/27/2023
We’ve taken a break from posting the past few weeks as we’ve watched, heartbroken, over all that has unfolded in Israel and Gaza. Today, we just want to share a little about what is on our hearts - for our Jewish friends and clients, and also for our friends and followers who may not know anyone in the Jewish community.
In 2018 we had the opportunity to photograph our very first Jewish event - a Bat Mitzvah. We had never photographed anything like this before - let alone been inside a Jewish Temple.
We didn’t realize it at the time, but this was the beginning of something very special for us. It was more than just a work event - it was the first day we were welcomed into the Jewish community here in Birmingham. (We will always be grateful to the Lebensburger family for taking a chance on us, and beginning this all! Thank you Jeff & Heather Zevator Lebensburger for trusting us with these special days for all 3 of your beautiful children!)
Since that time we have photographed and videoed dozens of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, a Jewish wedding, family photos for Jewish clients, and fundraising videos for the JCC. We’ve discovered that the Jewish community here is warm and welcoming - filled with wonderful, fun-loving, and compassionate people. For 5 years now we have captured these special days and stories. We have honored the nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, learned about the legacy of Jewish families in our city, lit shabbat candles, cheered through joyous horahs, laughed and danced together - and through it all, our clients have become our friends!
We have celebrated together - but we have also mourned together. Anti-semitic headlines and bomb threats over the past few years hit deeper when they were made for the temples we work in, aimed at people we love. We feel a deep connection to this community, and the tragic events of October 7th have weighed so heavily on our hearts and minds.
We’ve had a chance to speak with some of our clients personally, but we wanted to make this public post to say: We stand with you and we love you. 💙
What happened is more than wrong - it’s evil. We grieve the loss of life and the loss of safety for those in and around Israel - and we grieve over the fear Jewish people are now experiencing worldwide. We hope and pray with you for protection and safety for your families and friends.
May peace come to Israel. May more love and peace and healing find its way into this broken world. Our hearts are with you. Shalom. 💙
