Children of Purim

Stamford Hill might look as any other North London borough. When I moved here some years ago, I had no idea that its redbrick houses and leafy backstreets were home to the largest Haredi community in Europe. Men are dressed in traditional black garbs, they have long beards and unique side locks, while women fulfill the biblical commandment of being fruitful and multiply. Children are everywhere, and the community is growing fast. This is a photographic journey through the streets of my neighbourhood during the celebration of Purim, a Jewish feast that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people during the ancient Persian Empire. Purim is a very special event for the Jewish community of Stamford Hill. The neighbourhood is invaded by music and by a very special atmosphere, children wear masks and cheerful costumes and everybody is out on the streets. Cultural diversity intrigues me and I am fascinated by this community and its life governed by religious laws and traditions. Establishing a contact is difficult, everybody knows everybody and as an outsider you are noticed straight away. Through photography I have found my way of interaction, transforming this attraction into images. I look through the viewfinder and the distance shrinks.