The Movement for Reform Judaism

Rabbi Dr. Tony Bayfield, head of The Movement for Reform Judaism, is one of ten faith leaders whose photographic portraits will feature in a special exhibition launching at the National Portrait Gallery in February this year.

PRESS RELEASE

Faith and Church: Portraits by Don McCullin, which will run from 3 February to 7 May 2007, celebrates the rich spiritual diversity of contemporary England. In ten newly commissioned portraits profiling the leaders and representatives of the main faiths in this country, the sitters were invited to pose in environments that reflect their spiritual life.

In his portrait, Rabbi Bayfield is shown in the Room of Prayer of the Leo Baeck College. Sir Jonathan Sacks also features in the exhibition along with four faith leaders representing Christianity, two representing Islam and two representing Hinduism.

The photographer, Don McCullin is internationally recognised as one of the world’s greatest photojournalists. His images reveal an incisive eye and a mastery of light, from the early, award winning pictures of the building of the Berlin wall in 1961, to his searing shots of war in Cyprus and Vietnam, famine in Biafra, and AIDS in Africa. They are all photographed with unswerving compassion and humanity. McCullin brings these same qualities to the quiet, dignified portraiture he has made for Faith and Church.

Reflecting on this commission, McCullin speaks of the burden of suffering he has witnessed and his hope that these portraits will be “representative of humanity, strong enough to bring us together in a peaceful and harmonious way, so that we can lead ourselves out of the warring, pain and suffering. We must have mediation, especially now, and these ten people are so vitally important to that process.”

Rabbi Bayfield commented: "I am absolutely stunned to have been invited to take part. That a Reform rabbi should be included amongst this country's religious leaders is a quite remarkable achievement for a Movement which was only founded in 1942."

For further details, please contact:
Andrea Newman, Movement for Reform Judaism Public Relations Officer

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed