You Dont Look Jewish goes to Africa
Donation protected
In 2016, photographer Jenny Abrams was struck with the realization that there is not enough evidence highlighting the visual diversity of the Jewish people.
She made it her mission to educate herself about the unique Jewish communities around the globe with the ultimate goal of photographing them. After being denied grant money from dozens of art-based organizations, she put the project on hold and used this time to further delve into the deep history of Jewish communities worldwide.
During the intense Summer of 2020, when protests against racism swept the nation, Jenny saw an uprising of division between black and Jewish communities. Jenny questioned the lack of understanding of intersectionality with non-Ashkenazi Jews and became outraged over the exclusion of these people.
Jenny decided to take her idea in a new direction and created the Instagram account, You Don’t Look Jewish, in order to provide education and a visual platform showcasing Jews of all kinds.
You Don’t Look Jewish is a visual archive that features images highlighting the works of other photographers whose projects are rarely seen by the general public, as well as personal narratives from submissions and found photography. She aims to break the antisemitic stereotype of “what a Jew looks like.”
Jenny is now ready to embark on a global journey creating her own content as the beginning of a lifelong body of work.
The ultimate goal is to create a physical and digital collection that accurately depicts the Jewish people (Sephardi, Mizrahi, Ashkenazi, bi-racial, converts, etc) through exhibitions, articles, prints, books, and eventually a visual museum.
Help Jenny begin her project this Summer in Africa, where she will visit Jewish communities in Nigeria (Igbo), Uganda (Abayudaya), Zimbabwe (Lemba), Ethiopia (Beta Israel), Tanzania, and Madagascar.
The funds raised will cover travel costs, equipment, vaccines, security, and publishing fees. This is an ongoing project that will continue throughout many continents over a long period of time. Your donation supports the longevity of this massively needed narrative.
No donation is too small.
THANK YOU!
see Jenny's portfolio, here .
(image of Abayudaya children courtesy of Kulanu.org)
She made it her mission to educate herself about the unique Jewish communities around the globe with the ultimate goal of photographing them. After being denied grant money from dozens of art-based organizations, she put the project on hold and used this time to further delve into the deep history of Jewish communities worldwide.
During the intense Summer of 2020, when protests against racism swept the nation, Jenny saw an uprising of division between black and Jewish communities. Jenny questioned the lack of understanding of intersectionality with non-Ashkenazi Jews and became outraged over the exclusion of these people.
Jenny decided to take her idea in a new direction and created the Instagram account, You Don’t Look Jewish, in order to provide education and a visual platform showcasing Jews of all kinds.
You Don’t Look Jewish is a visual archive that features images highlighting the works of other photographers whose projects are rarely seen by the general public, as well as personal narratives from submissions and found photography. She aims to break the antisemitic stereotype of “what a Jew looks like.”
Jenny is now ready to embark on a global journey creating her own content as the beginning of a lifelong body of work.
The ultimate goal is to create a physical and digital collection that accurately depicts the Jewish people (Sephardi, Mizrahi, Ashkenazi, bi-racial, converts, etc) through exhibitions, articles, prints, books, and eventually a visual museum.
Help Jenny begin her project this Summer in Africa, where she will visit Jewish communities in Nigeria (Igbo), Uganda (Abayudaya), Zimbabwe (Lemba), Ethiopia (Beta Israel), Tanzania, and Madagascar.
The funds raised will cover travel costs, equipment, vaccines, security, and publishing fees. This is an ongoing project that will continue throughout many continents over a long period of time. Your donation supports the longevity of this massively needed narrative.
No donation is too small.
THANK YOU!
see Jenny's portfolio, here .
(image of Abayudaya children courtesy of Kulanu.org)
Organizer
Jenny Abrams
Organizer
Miami Beach, FL