Jewish Fathers: A Legacy of Love
Photographs by Lloyd Wolf

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum
One West 4th Street (between Broadway and Mercer Street)
July 14- August 12, 2004
Opening Reception: Wednesday, July 14th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Jewish Fathers: A Legacy of Love, Photographs by Lloyd Wolf, an exhibition exploring and honoring the role of Jewish fathers in America, is on view at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum from July 14th to August 12th. This exhibition follows the success of the award-wining photographer's previous exhibition and book, Jewish Mothers, with a contemporary view of the relationships between fathers and offspring, connected by affection, wisdom, and humor. Presented in conjunction with the publication of the book, Jewish Fathers: A Legacy of Love, by Jewish Lights Publishing, with essays by Paula Wolfson, photographs by Lloyd Wolf and a foreword by Rabbi Harold Kushner, this exhibition depicts an epic story of struggle and success with a universal message for all fathers who seek to give their children the American dream, a life full of opportunity.

The image of the Jewish father, harking back to the Biblical patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is expressed by Wolf through the lens of contemporary life and conveys the legacy of grit and devotion that American Jewish fathers continue to impart to their children. Wolf's photographic works explore issues facing Jewish fathers in modern American society, including the challenges of balancing career and family responsibilities, intermarriage, assimilation, education, single parenting, raising children with special needs, divorce, and religious observance. The men depicted come from a broad spectrum of Jewish America -- from secular to strictly orthodox, new fathers and grandfathers, the unknown and the unheralded, rural and urban, Holocaust survivors, immigrants, converts to Judaism -- men with moving and uplifting stories to share. Among the many well-known and celebrity participants are; Simms Taback, illustrator, Caldecott Award winner; David Frum, best-selling author; Yosef Yitzhak Jacobson, renowned Lubavitch rabbi; Richard Joel, president, Yeshiva University; Senator Carl Levin, Michigan; Frank London, leader of the Klezmatics; Dolph and Danny Schayes, NBA All-Stars.

“Lloyd Wolf's photographic subjects span all aspects and layers of contemporary life and include teachers, political leaders, physicians, lawyers, artists, writers, performers, musicians, scientists, rabbis, activists and philosophers, all of whom reflect the legacy of Judaism and its transmission, from father to child," says Laura Kruger, curator.

Lloyd Wolf is an award-winning photographer and writer whose work is in major public and private collections, and has appeared in The Washington Post, Ms., National Geographic Explorer, Jewish Monthly, The Forward, Elle, People, Vogue, and many other publications. He collaborated with Paula Wolfson on the book Jewish Mothers: Strength Wisdom Compassion. His first book, Facing the Wall, Americans at the Vietnam Memorial, (in collaboration with Duncan Spenser) was published by Macmillan in 1986.

Hours: Mondays- Thursdays, 9 am - 5 pm; Fridays, 9 am - 3 pm
Admission: Free. Photo ID required, www.huc.edu/museum/ny
Curated Tours for reporters/editors, group tours, and additional information:
(212) 824-2205