Spertus

As an Israeli photographer for the Reuters news agency, Gil Cohen-Magen was assigned to take pictures of Jewish customs in the ultra-Orthodox community of Mea She’arim. This experience grew into a decade-long project, during which Cohen-Magen built personal bonds within some of Israel’s most cloistered Hassidic communities. As doors began to open up for him, he gained unprecedented access to rituals, holiday celebrations, weddings, and scenes of everyday life.

A series of these photographs will be on view on the 7th floor of Spertus and can be seen as part of a free self-guided tour. Just stop in the Spertus Shop in the lobby and ask for your complimentary copy of the tour brochure.