stefano giovannini’s journals

Coney Island Avenue and Avenue K, Brooklyn NY

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Josef Ostrowicz was in the Warsaw ghetto for 2 years. after the war he was one of the founders of Israel. He has been married with Galina, originally from Russia, for 18 years. They speak Hebrew, Yiddish, German, Polish, Russian but almost no English. 5 years ago they moved to the USA, Benson Hurst Brooklyn. She said the services and support for the Holocaust survivors is much better in the USA than in Israel.

The 2 ladies became friends at the concentration camp, the person from the organization told me. She told me they would not let me take their picture, she could not take a photo of them herself. But when I asked they said yes and they even gave me their first / last name.

We ate some chicken and vegetables. I asked Joseph, the holocaust survivor if he only ate kosher and he said no with a smile. But I wonder if we got lost in translation.

I told his wife I love Borodinsky bread. She asked me why I like that. she said Kiev bread is a lot better and that I should learn Russian or Hebrew so we could have a conversation.

May 26, 2009
Marriott Hotel, Brooklyn, NY

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More than 3000 Satmar orthodox jews gathered at the Brooklyn Marriott to decry the real estate development in Toledo, Spain that threatens some very old jewish cemetery. Apparently the graves would be relocated and this is unacceptable to some orthodox Jews as graves should be left alone “for the eternity”.

Some view it as a way to erase Jewish historical presence in Europe.  I wonder if the developers are just motivated by greed rather than ideology. These are sensitive issues and I can’t find an answer although I always feel it is a shame to destroy or deface symbols of the past.

A rabbi tells me it would be less sacrilegious to build on top of a cemetery rather than moving the graves. That for Jews and Muslim the resting place has to be left alone in peace. I think about cemeteries in Italy that after a few years the remains get collected and removed from the tomb and put in a smaller box in a little crypt. I think about that small Jewish-Portuguese cemetery in Chinatown that is a little patch in between residential buildings. And the issues with the African burial ground in downtown Manhattan.

A rabbi starts wailing and mourning for those dead 500 years ago in Spain.

More than 1000 Satmars are outside trying to get in but there is no room. The NYPD and security have to intervene.

Some hotel guests look very uncomfortable.

I find it a very interesting experience, and I find strange being the only photographer apart from the official hasidic one covering the event.

People at the beginning do not want to be photographed but then after a while they ask me for my card and if I can put these photos on my website.

Here is more info about the Jewish cemetery in Toledo

Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NY

April 26, 2009

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Driving down 13 avenue in Dyker Heights. On my way to photograph city council candidates meeting.

Old men with swords and a bagpipe band are marching down the street on their way to S. Bernadette church.

I park the car in front of a fire hydrant and get off take some pictures. Some old men stand with swords drawn in front of their faces.
I do not have much time have to run to my 4th assignment of the day at some Jewish geriatric center.
Hasidic kids play in the street. All the homes have bars in their windows.
Driving back to Williamsburg on Lee avenue. Hasidic felt hats made in Italy. An old sign above a closed store.

Holocaust survivor, Mayor Bloomberg fans

Brooklyn, March 29, 2009.

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Many Bloomberg fans at the mayor’s campaign Brooklyn office on Atlantic ave. Kids’ style signs but most of the supporters appeared to be elders. I had to get in front and I had to share the position with a group of senior Russians. Fira Stukelman was bossy and she wanted to be close to the stage. But somehow she made some room for me. Her English was heavily Russian accented and sometimes it was hard to understand.

The Mayor walked in among his fans.
Bloomberg mentioned a few of Brooklyn neighborhoods, He then asked if he forgot any -
and people started yelling “flatbush”, “benson hurst”, “fort greene” and so on and on -felt like the beginning of a long list.
He had to cut them short and made his standard speech.
Some people outside were protesting.
Lots of beef sandwiches from Junior’s diner.

Fira called me a couple of days later. It was 8 45 am and i was having my morning coffee. She told me she was a Holocaust survivor. There is going to be a gathering of Holocaust survivor in Brooklyn in the near future I could attend.