HaLapid Fall 2004

Photo By Jamey Stillings

Any writer of nonfiction would jump at the chance to ask questions of an interesting, intelligent and talented artist. I first met SCJS member and award-winning professional photographer Cary Herz and viewed her work at the 1999 SCJS Conference, held in Los Angeles. As the “click, click” sound of the slide machine projected these intriguing, almost mysterious images on the screen, the audience was clearly spellbound, some, like I, filled with questions our agenda had no time for. Now, here is my golden opportunity. To view more of Cary’s work, visit her website at www.caryherz.com.

Q. Cary, where were you born and raised and where do you now make your home?

C.H.. I was born and raised in New York City, in Manhattan. For the past 20 years, home has been Albuquerque, NM.

Q. How long have you been making photographs? And especially for those of us with an interest in the technical side of photography, what’s your favorite camera?

C.H. I have been a photographer since 1972. I started out shooting during the Women’s Movement in New York City and covered many early demonstrations and also women’s sports in the Metro NYC area. I worked for eight years as a staff photographer for the Newark Star-Ledger and covered all kinds of news features for them in New York. In New Mexico, I have been a photo correspondent for the New York Times and many national and international publications.

As for my favorite cameras–I have a manual Mamiya 6×7 which I have been using for portraits of the descendants of conversos and shooting on black and white film. This particular camera has a great “feel.” It is a medium format so I can work with a bigger negative than on 35mm and make large luscious prints. Recently, I have been shooting digital, but for only commercial clients. I don’t like to use it for this project.

Q. When did you first become interested in crypto Judaism and how did it come about?

C.H. I was working on a photo project at the Las Vegas, NM, Jewish Cemetery when someone mentioned that there were other Jews in New Mexico. This was back in 1985. Certainly, I was aware of the Spanish Inquisition, but I had no idea that there were descendants living as hidden Jews. Like most people, I became fascinated with the idea that remnants of the culture could still exist after 500 years. Around this same time, I saw slides of grave markers taken by Emilio and Trudy Coca that appeared to contain Jewish symbols. Unfortunately, no one would tell me where the grave sites were! Understandable–but rustrating. So I started to look myself. Over a long period of time, I covered over 10,000 miles through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona.

Q. Please tell us about your very first crypto-Judaic “symbol” photograph. What were your feelings when you first saw what might be a Jewish symbol in an unexpected place?

C.H. One day, I came across a hand-carved white stone with a six-pointed star inside a cross with two hearts, dated 1942. I could not believe my eyes! But there it was. The hair stood up on my arms. I was very excited. The silence was broken by a few singing birds. I was all alone.

Q. What most people practicing “normative” Judaism think of as “proof” is seldom, if ever, available to crypto Jews. What do you think the symbols you’ve photographed mean?

C.H. All I can say is that someone, perhaps the person themselves, wanted a six-pointed star some symbol put on their grave maybe with a connection to their ancestry. I have found Mogen Davids and Hebrew on graves in Catholic cemeteries.

Q. Your beautiful and intriguing photos relating to crypto Judaism have been widely published and have certainly fascinated SCJS members. How many such photos are currently in your portfolio and where were most of them taken?

C.H. I have a collection of 50+ images, but not all are of grave sites. The descendants themselves comprise the most important part of the photo project. I have photographed descendants in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Belmonte and Monsaraz (Portugal), and in Spain itself. Out of consideration for the survivors, I don’t think I can reveal the grave site locations.

Q. Are you continuing your search and, if so, what search process is the norm? Tips? “Cold” searching?

C.H. No tips–and, yes, I have a new location I need to get to (luckily someone told me about this one). I would really like to photograph families and individuals to make a portrait in a location that is meaningful to their story.

Q. Do you consider your crypto-Jewish symbol photos art, anthropology, historical documentation or detective work?

C.H. I have tried to photograph the crypto-Jewish symbols as art work. Art allows viewers to bring their own feelings to the subject. My goal was not to prove anything, but just to show what is out there. A collaboration of my photos and your thoughts make for good discussion.

Q. What would you most like your “symbol” photos to achieve?

C.H. I would like to finally come out with a photographic book on the subject. I would like to have converso and crypto-Jewish descendants knocking on my door, wanting to have their pictures taken without fear but with joy about their family history. Each of us has a fluid story and this is just one piece of it. We have so much to share.