Philadelphia Mosaic: New Immigrants In America is an exhibit of photographs and interview segments by Philadelphia photographer Harvey Finkle depicting immigrant families from all parts of the world that have settled in Philadelphia within recent decades.
Philadelphia Mosaic represents Finkle’s efforts to document the experiences of ten families that have come to the United States, their connection to their culture of origin, and their struggles to achieve in the new society. The immigrant families represent the following homelands: Cambodia, Ethiopia and Laos, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lebanon, Peru, Russia, and Sierra Leone. Finkle has devoted his career to photojournalism and documentary photography, specializing in social, political, and cultural issues, such as human rights, social welfare, education, labor, and homelessness.
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Miriam Dukuray prepares her daughter, Mamie, for church. Photo by Harvey Finkle from Philadelphia Mosaic: New Immigrants to America. |
Philadelphia Mosaic was accompanied by an exhibit of items from Drexel’s Hagerty Library and Archives on the themes of photography of immigrants, immigrants in Philadelphia, and Drexel’s connection to immigration prepared by Alison Lewis, Humanities and Social Sciences Librarian, and Kevin Martin, Drexel Archivist.
Opening day events included a lecture by Judith Bernstein-Baker, Esq., Executive Director of HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia, entitled, “Rescue, Resettle, Reunite: The Jewish Communal Experience in Welcoming the Stranger.” Joining Ms. Bernstein-Baker with “An Interfaith Perspective” was Father Bill Ayres, Director of the Office for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees, Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Harvey Finkle then introduced the exhibit. A reception and catalog-signing followed, along with a gallery tour by Harvey Finkle. |
Photographer Harvey Finkle gives a tour of the Philadelphia Mosaic: New Immigrants in America exhibit. |
Drexel’s Judaic Studies Program, in its courses and educational programs, focuses on the centrality of immigration to an understanding of Jewish history. In the twentieth century, outlets for immigration were limited for East European Jews, whose heartland was annihilated by the Nazis. The long history of the Jewish people has provided it with great experience in all aspects of immigration, and the Jewish community in many parts of the globe developed institutions built on this expertise. At this time in history, when Jews are not resettling in large numbers, there are many opportunities for helping non-Jewish immigrants and refugees find a new home. This Jewish tradition of helping non-Jews was a focus of the lecture and discussion on the opening day of Philadelphia Mosaic. At a time when resources are limited, it is vital to support these endeavors. Ms. Bernstein-Baker spoke of the history of the Philadelphia Jewish community’s involvement in immigration, stressing the challenges of the current environment.
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| Support for this exhibit was provided by the Friends of Judaic Studies, the Ash Family Foundation, the Milton and Miriam Handler Foundation, and the Louis and Bessie Stein Foundation. Philadelphia Mosaic: New Immigrants In America was on loan from the Free Library of Philadelphia. Original funding came from The Honickman Foundation along with The Philadelphia Foundation, Elizabeth Gemmill, Esq., and the Warwick Foundation. |