Yaacov Kaszemacher

On the right hand side of the Gallery Street about a quarter of the way up from the Great Stairs you will find the Ohr Yaacov Gallery. Inside you will probably discover a twinkly-eyed bearded older religious Hassid, busy mounting pictures or occupying himself with the numerous tasks of running a gallery. This is Yaacov Kaszemacher.

History

Brought up in France in a secular home in post-war Paris, Yaacov still retains the Gallic charm of his youth, although he came to Israel via New York in its 60's hippy hey-day. He began his artistic career taking photographs and producing psychedelic light shows, where he developed his technical expertise. This autodidactic training held him in good stead and enabled him to "think outside the box" when it came to producing more permanent art forms.

Israel

Getting in touch with his Jewish heritage through a spiritual awakening brought Yaacov to teshuva and to Israel. Settling in Safed, he began to integrate his new Torah Hassidic observant way of life with his need to make art. He produces beautiful pictures combining the landscape and buildings of Safed with themes of Jewish life-cycle events and Torah.

Style

He frequently uses delayed action and double exposure photography techniques, often with himself as a subject. In these pictures he photographs himself appearing and disappearing down the alleys and lanes of the Old City. Yaacov can be recognized in his paintings by his characteristic Hassid clothes and distinctive step. In other pictures he photographs the landscape and nature in the surrounding area and later may put several different images together. He then combines the resulting photographs into paintings, silk-screen prints and even computer graphics, sometimes giving the composite paintings a 3D effect. He still experiments with his work and has taken advantage of many possibilities offered by the computer.

Themes

Yaakov uses kabalistic themes in his work and many of his geometric circle paintings can be used as mandalas and meditation devices. In illustrating and photographing Jewish lifecycle events he likes to show the timelessness of Torah by excluding modern objects that would indicate when the picture was taken. He also takes photographs of well known Rebbes at their ‘tish' or other events. The resulting pictures again have a timeless quality being mostly printed in black and white or sepia tones.

His works often appear deceptively simple but as you look at them they reveal themselves in their complexity and their multi-dimensional qualities. With his unique technique he is able to bring out the beautiful mystical nature of Safed.

Exhibitions.

He continues to exhibit in both North America and Europe and some of his work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Jewish History in Paris. He also is well known in Israel, having exhibited in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa.

The Gallery

Inside his gallery there is a wide choice of paintings, prints and photographs to suit all tastes and pocket books. If you find him there he will normally be happy to explain his work and give you his views on life.

His pictures can also be seen in local banks and health centers as well as in the Gallery.

Yaacov has been married for many years and is both a father and a grandfather. He and his wife also have zimmers in the Old City where you can have the pleasure of staying when visiting Safed.

To Contact:

You can find Yaacov in his gallery (#9 Yosef Caro Street), or reach him by phone (04) 699 9849 or email kaszema@netvision.net.il