Studying the Torra

This is one print from a folio of twenty nine prints executed in the German expressionist style. They were created in 1949 by Jewish internees at the Caraolos deportation camp in Famagusta. Over fifty thousand Jews on their way to Israel were kept for some time in Cyprus by the British authorities between 1946-1949. Despite their meager means, each one of twenty six internees printed one representation of their lives within the camp. All representations were circulated in twenty six copies, one for each of the artists. A number of young male students sit round a table and look attentively at the Rabbi. He is in the middle of the table, close to all, and gives instruction on the Torra. Another dignitary, wearing a tall hat, sits at the head of table. The group is confined within a nissan hut. The electric light must be weak if one judges from the presence of a petrol lamp on the table. It becomes quite obvious that the interned society of Jews waiting their turn to go to Israel were determined and dedicated to preserve every aspect of their religious and cultural practices such as the evening studying of the Torra.