'Happy Hasidim Head Home'

One day, arriving at Ukraine's main international airport in Kiev waiting for delivery there of lost luggage, I encountered thousands of black-clad Hasidic Jews passing through the airport at end of Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), returning to Israeli homes They had just celebrated Rosh Hashanah during a week of feasting, some dancing (I was told), mixed with traditional prayer and reverence, in rural Uman, Ukraine. There this almost 'mystical' sect's founder and revered, near Messianic leader, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov taught, then died in 1810. Hasidic Jews showed great reverence as they traveled, often praying, but the mood among these thousands of travelers was celebratory and convivial. This ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect often lives in enclaves where they observe their faith's strict views. honoring 18th C. values and distancing themselves from the secular world with its counter-spiritual enticements. Women and kids are excluded;; teenage males as young as 13 participated and traveled as 'men. Their faith defines 'man' as a male age 13 or over who has had his bar mitzvah -- a coming of age ceremony recognized throughout Judaism. All images here taken within a few hours, as thousands of distinctively black garbed Hasidim moved for direct and connecting flights, almost all to Israel, where the vast majority live. In sect enclaves they traditionally separate themselves from modern 'earthly' values that their sect teaches pose threat of spiritual contamination, as they seek to commune with a 'greater truth'. That quest is described as 'almost mystical' -- words often used to describe their sect of highly observant Jews. Singularly iconoclastic, these Hasidim soon accepted this goyim photographer,. While most traditionally shun being photographed , afte I showed them early images taken with trepidation by telephoto from a distance, , I was unexpectedly welcomed ,and thereafter mixed and photographed freely. This was far from what I had expected, as an 'outsider'with two cameras, since this Sect shuns personal aggrandizement and relates self-aggrandizement with spiritual contamination exemplified by being photographed, especially by an outsider. At once I understood that this huge,, constantly-changing group with traditional, trademark garb, was a wonderful photographic gift, To be able to move among them with freedom to respectfully photograph while receiving an unexpected, warm reception was a a great opportunity. I took a record number of images. Some sect members attributed their unusual warmness to this outsider to the high mood that marked this climax of their joyous celebration of their New Year holiday These images are presented exclusively in black and white,. Some images were superior in color, but to mix color and black and white images seldom works well. The annual Rosh Hashanah celebration of their beloved Rabbi Nachman has in past drawn an estimated 25,000 celebrants almost all during the New Year week. Hasidim are one of several ultra-Conservative Jewish sects that follow teachings of predominantly deceased rabbis regarded as near Messianic, including founder Rebbe Nachman. Garb variations help define the various ultra Orthodox sects. Their sect's practices ares described as being almost 'mystical'. They seek to preserve 19th C. values, speak predominantly Yiddish' and shun outsiders in their communities and personal lives. Living together, it is a male dominated subculture;, women are celebrated for being spouses and bearing children. This sect has strict, highly conservative views of sexuality, and women are valued primarily as wives and forchild bearing and rearing with very few liberties. Hasidic culture is marked by strict male dominance. Some women are reported to shave their heads after marriage, out of piousness and tradition, then wear wigs when in public among outsiders. There were NO females or children in this huge group. John Crosley