Carved Memories: Tombstones of the Russian Pale FROM THE PUBLISHER
In 1786, Catherine the Great ordered all Jews in her domain to move to an area in southwestern Russia and Poland known as the "Pale of Settlement," outer provinces that would now include parts of the Ukraine and Moldova. Arriving in massive numbers, the Jews eventually dispersed and settled throughout this region, bringing with them their religious and artistic traditions. In this fascinating book, 125 duotone photographs document carved tombstones of the Pale, fascinating examples of the Jewish stone art tradition that eventually were destroyed by decades of political turmoil and time. Comprising an important exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, these photographs are memorials to the lost world of the shtetl. Moreover, as the great majority of Jews in America today are descendants of Russian Jews who lived in the Pale, these photos are invaluable genealogical records for Jews of Russian descent.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
One hundred twenty-five b&w photographs document the carved tombstones of the so-called Pale of Settlement in the western provinces of Russia, specifically present-day Ukraine and Moldova. The images of the stones, produced by artist and photographer Goberman from the 1930s to the 1960s, record poignant memories of the lost world of the shtetl and practically all that remains of a major Jewish folk art tradition. An introduction by poet Robert Pinsky discusses the once-vibrant culture of Eastern Jewry. Essays by Goberman and Gershon Hundert, (Jewish Studies, McGill U.) place the tombstones in their artistic and cultural setting and explain the surrounding traditions. The images are organized by the regions where the cemeteries are located, and captions include translations of the Hebrew and Yiddish inscriptions. Published to accompany an exhibition organized by The Brooklyn Museum of Art. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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