Crowd outside of synagogue in Moscow
Creator(s)
- Robert J. Gessner (Camera Operator)
- Mr. Peter Gessner
Biographical History
Robert Gessner was born on October 21, 1907 in Escanaba, MI. He obtained a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1929 and a M.A. from Columbia University in 1930. He started teaching at New York University in 1930. He married Doris Lindeman on May 27, 1938 and had two children, Peter and Stephen. Mr. Gessner was a screen playwright and the author of several books, including "Massacre" (1931); "Broken Arrow" (1933); "Some of My Best Friends are Jews" (1936); "Treason" (1944); "Youth is the Time" (1945). He was a pioneer educator in motion pictures as an art form. Gessner founded the Motion Picture Department (now Cinema Studies) at NYU in 1941, the first four-year film curriculum leading to a B.A. degree in motion picture studies in the United States. He finished his book "The Moving Image, A Guide to Cinematic Literacy" before he died in June 1968.
Scope and Content
People of all ages stand on the steps outside of Choral Synagogue in Moscow, located at Bolshoy Spasoglinishchevskiy lane, 10, during the High Holidays. Multiple people wear the tallit. A man using crutches moves down the front steps of the building, unable to use the lower part of his right leg. People move out of the synagogue, men put out their hands, begging for money and some give. As more people file out of the synagogue, the beggars continue to put out their hands, becoming very aggressive with one woman. She attempts to push them back. People stand in the streets while others keep moving out and down the steps. CU of some Jews.
Note(s)
Robert Gessner published a book in 1936 about his overseas travels called "Some of my Best Friends Are Jews" See RG-60.1824 and RG-60.1832 for more footage of the Moscow Choral Synagogue.
Subjects
- HOLIDAYS (HIGH HOLIDAYS)
- JEWS
- CROWDS
- SYNAGOGUES
- JEWISH LIFE (PRE-WAR)
- RELIGIOUS SERVICES (JEWISH)
Places
- Moscow, Soviet Union
Genre
- Film
- Amateur.