The Practice of Memory
In Judaism, lighting candles is a weekly practice. We light shabbat candles every Friday at sunset, as well as before special holidays. In our tradition, light is associated with memory, as the existence of my nation has been relying, for thousands of years, on the ability of one generation to remember the Hebrew language and Judaism’s ways of knowing and pass it to the next generation.
As a Jewish woman, I have received, from both my parents and grandparents, my peoples’ ways of knowing as well as methods to preserve and pass on their teachings to my children. To preserve my people’s heritage and ways of knowing, we have certain practices that we do weekly, yearly, and in significant stages in one’s life. Lighting candles is one of the practices, and my group members respond to the dialogue presented to them within the series of photos in a way that reminds, illustrates, and emphasizes to me why I am lighting the Shabbat and holiday candles. Upon seeing the series of photos, the words memory, family, togetherness, and respect were thrown into the air. As words turn into sentences, my group members elaborate by saying:
‘Your dialogue with the candlelight, fire, and symbols brings to mind a family coming together around one table, talking, and sharing a meal. It communicates a peaceful dialogue with non-human presence, and it highlights your humbleness and vulnerability. The dialogue here requires you to be present in the moment.’
Although the photos did not show a family coming together, or the togetherness of family sharing a meal while conversing, the act of candle lighting captured in this series still manages to convey the ideas surrounding togetherness and connection. While at the same time, highlighting the dialogue I conduct with my heritage, memory, history, time, place, and ways of knowing. The candle lighting dialogue connects me with the essence of my people, which is human dignity. This connection allows for a dialogue, a way to communicate with the world we live in and my people’s ways of knowing through togetherness, kindness, and respect with all beings.
The story I try to tell through this series of photos is the story of my roots, which are the continuum of my ancestors’ roots. Furthermore, to keep my connection and remember my people’s ways of knowing, I consciously choose to practice the action of lighting candles at specific times. In the photo series I try to call attention to my dialogue with more-than-humans, a dialogue that helps me keep my connection with my peoples’ ways of knowing and keep the Jewish nation’s memory alive. Although the photos communicate only one part of my lived experience, the lighting of the candles and the symbols that are associated with the practice still manage to provoke my group members to think about the aspects of the practice that were not present in the photos.
My group members were able to sense the thoughts that drive me to light the candles during the specific time, place, and with the particular symbols I have used.