Design Research of an Ethnographic Film
MOVIE PRODUCTION OF THIS MOVIE : https://www.behance.net/gallery/66585231/Film-production-of-Ahmedabads-Bene-Israel
This communication design project aims to document and present some facets of the Bene Israel community of Ahmedabad that has been living in the city for over a century. Notwithstanding its long presence in the city, its history, culture and heritage remain relatively unknown.The purpose of this communication design project is to contribute to the exercise of documenting Bene Israel heritage in the city by making a short ethnographic film in Hindi that tells us a story of the community in the voices of its own members.
Research Techniques used in this project :
1. Ethnographic research
MOVIE PRODUCTION OF THIS MOVIE : https://www.behance.net/gallery/66585231/Film-production-of-Ahmedabads-Bene-Israel
This communication design project aims to document and present some facets of the Bene Israel community of Ahmedabad that has been living in the city for over a century. Notwithstanding its long presence in the city, its history, culture and heritage remain relatively unknown.The purpose of this communication design project is to contribute to the exercise of documenting Bene Israel heritage in the city by making a short ethnographic film in Hindi that tells us a story of the community in the voices of its own members.
Research Techniques used in this project :
1. Ethnographic research
2. Literature review
3. Interviews
4. Brainstorming and Structuring information
3. Interviews
4. Brainstorming and Structuring information
1. Ethnographic Research :
Collecting Information through Field Research :
To understand the community. I started reading books which written on the community. Those books gave me brief idea about people.
1. Tracing History
I went to Alibaug which is 100 km away from Navi Mumbai then I got to know the nearby locations. The main motto to visit these location is to examine the history attached to it.
2. Locating Community in the city :
The places and cultural markers of the Bene Israel community I found in in Ahmedabad.
1. Synagogoue : A Synagogue is a place to worship. In Hebrew it is known as 'Bet Knesset. It means “house of assembly" or Bet Tefila, "house of prayer"
2. Schools :
Bene Israel Jewish community is one of the great contribution to Ahmedabad. They established some of the first English medium schools.
There are 5 main English medium schools in Ahmedabad.
1. Best Higher Secondary School.
2. Nelson Group of schools.
3. Little flower high school
4.Classical school
5. Reubs higher secondary school
3. Cemetery :
There are two Jewish cemeteries in Ahmedabad. One is in the Dhudheshwar and the second is near Vishala.
4. Jewish Houses in Ahmedabad:
Jewish people in Ahmedabad don't stay like Ghetto’s, they live in different areas of Ahmedabad. The distinctive mark of their house is the 'Mezuza'. Mezuza is fixed at their door post.
The places and cultural markers of the Bene Israel community I found in in Ahmedabad.
1. Synagogoue : A Synagogue is a place to worship. In Hebrew it is known as 'Bet Knesset. It means “house of assembly" or Bet Tefila, "house of prayer"
2. Schools :
Bene Israel Jewish community is one of the great contribution to Ahmedabad. They established some of the first English medium schools.
There are 5 main English medium schools in Ahmedabad.
1. Best Higher Secondary School.
2. Nelson Group of schools.
3. Little flower high school
4.Classical school
5. Reubs higher secondary school
3. Cemetery :
There are two Jewish cemeteries in Ahmedabad. One is in the Dhudheshwar and the second is near Vishala.
4. Jewish Houses in Ahmedabad:
Jewish people in Ahmedabad don't stay like Ghetto’s, they live in different areas of Ahmedabad. The distinctive mark of their house is the 'Mezuza'. Mezuza is fixed at their door post.
Magen Abraham Synagogue,Ahmedabad.
BEST HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL
Jewish Cemetery
'mezuza' and sign of 'menorah' at doorpost
Visits to ceremonies and celebrations :
1. Malida ceremony : I visited the ceremony called 'Malida'.The offerings and the ceremony both known as 'Malida'. In the Malida ceremony, whole community used to gather inside synagogue. The Malida ceremony is celebrated in their happiest occasions like child birth, marriage etc.
1. Malida ceremony : I visited the ceremony called 'Malida'.The offerings and the ceremony both known as 'Malida'. In the Malida ceremony, whole community used to gather inside synagogue. The Malida ceremony is celebrated in their happiest occasions like child birth, marriage etc.
2. Sefer Torah:
I went to see their Sefer Torah prayer. Torah is the religious and holiest text of the Jews. In Ahmedabad's synagogue they have the Torah tucked away in secret chamber of the main prayer area.
I went to see their Sefer Torah prayer. Torah is the religious and holiest text of the Jews. In Ahmedabad's synagogue they have the Torah tucked away in secret chamber of the main prayer area.
3. Sabbath:
Firstly, I started visiting their Sabbath prayers. It is held every Friday evening and Saturday evening. It was totally a new experience for me. I have attended full prayers for 1 hour there were approximately 20 people who have attended the prayers.
Firstly, I started visiting their Sabbath prayers. It is held every Friday evening and Saturday evening. It was totally a new experience for me. I have attended full prayers for 1 hour there were approximately 20 people who have attended the prayers.
2. Literature review :
1. India's Bene Israel - Shirley Berry Isenberg:
This book helped me a lot to understand the community's history, social structure and culture. It also gave accounts of differences between the Jews of the different parts of the India. This book held a very important position in helping me to craft my film right from the very beginning.
2. India’s Jewish Heritage - Shalwa Weil
The literature describes the history, architecture, different types of Jews, rituals that Jews of India perform, it gives us details of all the synagogues that are situated all over the country.
1. India's Bene Israel - Shirley Berry Isenberg:
This book helped me a lot to understand the community's history, social structure and culture. It also gave accounts of differences between the Jews of the different parts of the India. This book held a very important position in helping me to craft my film right from the very beginning.
2. India’s Jewish Heritage - Shalwa Weil
The literature describes the history, architecture, different types of Jews, rituals that Jews of India perform, it gives us details of all the synagogues that are situated all over the country.
3. Interviews :
Taking interviews and having deep conversation to understand more.
Taking interviews and having deep conversation to understand more.
4. Brainstorming and Structuring information
Observations and arguments after Field research,
Key Objectives :
Key Objectives :
1. To Explore and understand the Jewish community of Ahmedabad and their contribution to Ahmedabad.
2. To understand, how the Jewish community as microscopic community in India as well as in Ahmedabad is trying to keep their community alive and how they perceive their future.
3. Understanding their origin of Ahmedabad's Jews and the changes happened in the community till now.
4. What is the importance of city of Ahmedabad for them? What are the various reasons to move to Israel?
5. To observe and understand Jewish religious practices and their festivals which they perform and celebrate in the Ahmedabad and answer the below question
• Why do they celebrate it?
• How do they celebrate it?
• What is the difference and how Jews celebrate the same festivals in other parts of the world?
2. To understand, how the Jewish community as microscopic community in India as well as in Ahmedabad is trying to keep their community alive and how they perceive their future.
3. Understanding their origin of Ahmedabad's Jews and the changes happened in the community till now.
4. What is the importance of city of Ahmedabad for them? What are the various reasons to move to Israel?
5. To observe and understand Jewish religious practices and their festivals which they perform and celebrate in the Ahmedabad and answer the below question
• Why do they celebrate it?
• How do they celebrate it?
• What is the difference and how Jews celebrate the same festivals in other parts of the world?
To communicate this research, I have made an ethnographic account , a DOCUMENTARY film name " Ahmedabad's Bene Israel "
