In April of this year, 143 people from the East Bay’s Jewish community traveled to Israel together for 10 days on a trip co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the East Bay.
For those who couldn’t make it, award-winning photographer Reesa Tansey has provided a window into the experience. “Bringing Israel Back to the Bay,” a collection of Tansey’s personal photos from the trip, will be on display starting Friday, Aug. 30 at Temple Sinai in Oakland.
“I had no idea what to expect from that trip,” recalled Tansey of the journey, which brought together members of 14 congregations. “It was such a diverse group and there were so many different kinds of experiences to choose from — history, politics, environmentalism, fashion … and it wasn’t dogmatic. I felt like it was really a time to explore, rather than anybody trying to convince us of anything.
“Also, it was a pretty strong-willed, opinionated group of people, and I was really impressed by the openness with which everyone approached the trip,” she added. Tansey, an Oakland resident who has received several awards for her work from the National Endowment for the Arts, emphasized that the collection reflected her own personal experiences on a trip designed to accommodate a wide range of interests.
The photos will serve as the inaugural exhibition at Gallery Sinai. Images will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the gallery. An opening will be held after Shabbat services on Aug. 30. Temple Sinai is located at 2808 Summit St. in Oakland.