Gray

The shadow of a family under a gray mist somehow represents the lack of excitation which has left the gray and in some way cold feeling in the area.  

Unity

This image represents very strong unity amongst the people living in one community with different cultural and ethical backgrounds. This is clearly visible in the Golders Green community.  

Unanimity

I have chosen this picture because it shows the single mindedness of the group and the community.

 

Perception:

Jewish dominance

Unanimity

Traditional

Closed In 

Isolated 

Inspirations:

Architecture 

Unity

Strong Jewish community

Gradual change in culture 

Kosher food

Atmosphere:

Respectful 

Quiet

Family oriented 

Gray 

Limited 

Jewish clothing

Jews dress in a manner that reflects a Torah-true life.

This means that it is possible to exhibit in public articles of clothing and a manner of wearing a beard which depict that the wearer seeks to follow the commands of the Torah respecting hair style and religious symbolism.

There is a book called Vayikro, which means “and he called”. These are the three words with which the book begins. Chapter 19:27 of that book may be translated: “Do not round the corner of your head, neither shall you destroy the corners of your beard.” There are other prohibitions concerning the shaving of hair so that an orthodox or Torah true Jew wears long sideburns known as Payot Harosh or, in Yiddish, Payes.

Shaving or trimming the beard is not permitted on Holy Days, particularly on Shabbat, which is the Holiest Day in Judaism. The use of a straight razor is also prohibited, so that in the past Jewish men used depilatory powder (Nair) while now electric razors may be used.

In addition to the influence of Torah on appearance, there are those Jews who wear a beard and sideburns because they want to appear Jewish.

Jews wear black clothes because the medieval church and state demanded that Jews wear black at all times. The European countries generally decreed so-called “sumptuary” laws. These laws required each social class in the feudal system to wear clothes appropriate to their rank. Hence, the upper class wore gaudy clothes of many colors and ornamented profusely. By law, Jews were non-persons and had to wear black clothes so they could be identified at once. The Jews also had to wear a yellow armband or star or other mark. This was abandoned in the eighteenth century but re-instituted by the European killers during the years 1933-1945.

Black clothes are also known to Jews as a symbolic expression divrai yirah shomayim, which means “fearing heaven”. To some Jews life is very serious and the Jew is always conscious of his relationship to G’d. Therefore black is worn so as to avoid frivolity and also place distance between the wearer and everyone else.

Orthodox Jews also wear a prayer belt called a g*rtel in German or Yiddish. This belt is to indicate that the wearer separates his upper body from his lower body as the head is the location of all that is inspired while our bottom serves lesser purposes.

Many orthodox Jewish men also wear a black hat and some wear a streimel , i.e. a fur lined hat. The hat style may vary according to the European origin of a Chassidic sect. Therefore, Lithuanians may wear a different head covering than Galicians, although all will wear a skull cap all day.

The wearing of the skull cap, also known as a kippa or yarmulka, shows respect for G’d, who is thought to live in heaven above us. Hence separate themselves from the divine presence by wearing a hat or cap at all times.

Jewish clothing has entered the non-Jewish world. This is particularly true of the garb worn by Christian priests. Tallit, or prayer shawl, is called a stolaby R.C. priests, using the Latin word. The entire Christian priestly garb is derived from the description of the clothes worn by the Jewish priests at the time the Temple stood in Yerushalayim.

Recent news articles featuring Golders Green.......

X Factor House Hysteria Prompts Road Closure

Thursday October 29, 2009


Hoards of youngsters have been gathering outside the house where the finalists of the ITV show are staying for six days in the hope of catching glimpses of their idols.
Barnet Council said the decision to close the road was to "protect children and teenagers who have been amassing in the road outside the property".
The street in Golders Green, north London, will be closed off by roadblocks at either end until Tuesday next week when the situation will be reviewed.
The council said the road is regularly used as a "cut-through" by drivers.
Councillor Andrew Harper said: "I appreciate the nuisance that this crowd is causing some local residents but our priority has to be to ensure that these young people are safe.
"We have rain forecast for the weekend and I hope that, and the end of half term, will bring an end to the problem.

Jilted boyfriend given life sentence for acid attack and rape of model

01 May 2009

THE jilted ex-boyfriend of a Golders Green model whose face was disfigured with acid has been jailed for life.Danny Lynch, 29, was sentenced this afternoon (Friday) for raping the 25-year-old aspiring TV star and ordering a terrifying attack on her which has left her permanently disfigured.Having raped the woman - who must remain anonymous - following the break down of their relationship, he then ordered his accomplice Steffan Sylvestre, 20, to throw sulphuric acid in her face as she walked along Golders Green Road last March. Sylvestre received an indeterminate stint behind bars for the public's protection, and must serve at least six years in a young offenders' institution.

There was a documetary on the incident this evening on C4 at 9:00pm.

http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/news/goldersgreen.aspx - more articles

Thought these were quite interesting.

Intransient.......

I really like the community one,  community like in the picture is usually something quite vocal which shows a really apparent togetherness. In Golders Green I think there is a strong community but one which only scratches the surface of our perception. Its almost secretive, where you have to be invited in, a bit like the jewish faith.

3 Images

I've been trawling through images and delving deep into my thoughts to find some visuals that represent my chosen words from our 3 categories of Perception/ Inspiration/ Atmosphere. It has been a good exercise as it has really made me consider Golder's Green and my views on the place and how I see it visually. Somehow I feel like I am a little harsh on Golder's Green with my opinion toward the place as an outsider.......

Perceptions - 'Jewish'
My first image is or a street in Hatton Garden, near Holborn in London. Hatton Garden is famous as London's gold and jewellery quarter. One of the most distinct communities in the Garden are the Jewish traders, who moved into the area in the 17th century. Hatton Garden is not a particularly flamboyant area considering the its main trade. Hatton Garden, London, image from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hatton.garden.london.arp.jpg

Inspirations - 'Community'
I picked the word 'community' as this is what stand out from speaking to the people in Golders Green and observations. This image represents my idea of community, here is service sharing and exchange within Mount Pleasant Community Harare Zimbabwe.
Image taken from website: http://www.sustainable-everyday.net/ccsla/?p=102\

Atmosphere - 'reserved and restricted'

Here is a black and white image of a catholic church in the ground of Maynooth College in Ireland. There is a seminary there where male seminarians train to become Catholic priests.
This church here is quite overpowering. I see the Catholic Church as reserved and restricted and old fashioned.
Image taken from http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_floz/2931152895/

My Perceptions of "suburbia"

Perfect, clean, crisp, warm, neighbourly, proud

calm, happy...