THE BEAUTY OF JUDAISM EXHIBITION By Crystal Jones and Zahava Mimran. Photography by Raw Focus - Dina Erlich.
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s a freelance journalist who has worked for almost all of the national newspapers, Crystal Jones had always been an avid art lover, yet she had never ventured into the world of art. Previously irreligious, Crystal found her way to a life of spirituality and meaning, and is now incredibly passionate about her observance. ‘It takes a tremendous amount of life experience, spirituality, bravery and commitment to acknowledge that Torah is emes, then to implement changes in your life to become fully observant and commit to a religious life with ongoing simcha. But I wanted to show that this can be done and that this is what a truly beautiful life is,’ she says, ‘The joy and depth of frum life cannot be captured in a Netflix show. Television shows are
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always looking to sensationalize because it appeals to a mass narrative – the side where those that have lived this happy life since they were born grow tired and uninspired with it and decide to ‘free’ themselves by assimilating fully into the secular world. It is a tragedy because I have known every joy the secular world can offer and nothing compares to the liberation and connection I feel when I am close to Hashem through mitzvos.’ Unfortunately though, many consider religious Jews, and especially the women, as being oppressed, trapped and unhappy, which couldn't be further from the truth. Crystal found that she just got fed up of hearing and seeing the same bland and unimaginative message from non-Jewish contacts, colleagues and even secular Jews. With the worldwide perception of
"She realised that art may be the closest she could come to presenting these concepts, and thus The Beauty of Judaism exhibition was born."
