Jew Ess - A Portrait Series

As the night of my 25th year around the sun dauntingly shifted its eyes towards me, I faced a question most girls brave at some point in their lives. A question of identity. Of femininity. Of womanhood. I thought to myself - if I had to break me, Hanya, down to all of my identities - what would they be? Firstly, daughter. Secondly, sister. Third - one of millions of poor souls fighting their way into the medical field. And fourth? Some vague personification of a person who loves hard, feels a lot, and has absolutely no idea who she really is. No, truly. Because in my entire life, my most specific, most intently detailed role has been that of a daughter. And equally as important to me, nearly stronger, and somewhat newer, sister. How could a woman like myself, nearly a quarter of a century old, have experienced so many things, loved so many people, traveled so many places - have no sincere clarity about the role she plays in her own life? Does any woman? I have been blessed to know many women in my life. Many brilliant, empowered women who have come across my life and made it immeasurably more beautiful. This series was an homage to them. Women often play a steering role in society; those who mother, who caregive, who raise, who heal. In a Jewish family, a mother is the matriarch - the keeper, and relinquisher, of the Jewish faith. It is through the mother's blood that children are born into Judaism, are Chosen children, are sons who learn the teachings and daughters who are entrusted with the survival of the culture, the customs, and the religion. So a Jewish woman will, like many others, entertain an incredibly complex identity. She is an artwork of pointillism; she is daughter, she is sister, she is mother, she is matriarch, and she is....whoever she is, if she has had the time, the chance, and the energy to cultivate it. My own mother, like many of those whom I was incredibly grateful to honor in this portrait series, is that same work of art. She is a daughter to my beautiful grandmother, sister to my kind uncle, mother to me and my powerful sister, matriarch of our family, and she is... a doctor, a lover of theatre, and classical music, and photography, a wife, a consultant on all family medical issues, an immovable defender of our jewishness, an impressive force in building our current life, and among many other points of her painting, she is much more. This portrait project grew from the most recent wave of anti-semitism. It is a thread through which all of Jewish history has been pierced. From ancient worlds, to my own grandparents, to my parents, and now to the generation of my sister and I. It is blinded hate and unbelievable ignorance, it is swastikas on the subway and synagogues on fire. It is the fearful changing of last names, hiding of מָגֵן דָּוִד necklaces, and lesser plates around a formerly full shabbat table. From a place of intense pride, murmurings of fear, and immense defense of the privilege I was born to pass on to my own children one day - this project was born. And so I reached out to as many women in my life as I could. I told them I was creating a series of portraits highlighting Jewish Women, the hands which pass on the faith from generation to generation (לדור ודור). All who identified as daughters, sisters, mothers, and grandmothers were invited, and asked to bring one personal object (clothing, headscarves, jewelry, household item, book, etc) that had been a token of their Jewish faith or family history to be held in their portrait. And like always, if you build it, they will come. And they did. Beautiful, brilliant, powerful, incredible women. From all ages, background, and representations. Women who have been my mothers, my sisters, and my friends. On the eve of Hannukah, Jewish women from all parts of my life chose to participate in this project; came out to me, sit for their pictures, share their family heirlooms and names for whom they were sitting in honor of. I hope this is the first part of many that I get to photograph, respect, and immortalize in this way. I hope they know how grateful I am to have them in my life. I hope they see themselves in these portraits how I saw them through my lens - Jew ess. Like Lioness. Like Tigress.

It is with pride, and deep humility, that I share this personal passion project today. An ode to my mama, on the day I was born. And to all the other women I was able to love because I am here. With strong love, Hanya. Daughter, Sister, pre-med zombie, Friend.

P.S. Though not women, without two beautiful people, this project would not have been possible. This portrait series has been supported, loved, and executed with the help of the talented hands of Isaac Skenazy and Matthew Mourad, who helped me create the vision I held onto so dearly.

**Notes: This essay was written with my own personal experiences. Not discussed, but still significant, are my beliefs in patrilineal Jewish identity, as well as womanhood experienced outside of sex - as beautifully fluid identity welcomed individually and uniquely by each person.