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| This is a dual portrait generated from two photographs of Moroccan grandparents of the late 1800's dressed in their Shabbat attire. During this time a household may include three generations, but the nucleus was the senior parental pair, according to M.Zborowski and E.Herzog in their book, Life is With People a treatise about shtetl life and the culture of earlier Jewish families. Here, Zaide is the head of the household, and it is he who sits at the head of the Shabbat table, except that he may give his place to a more esteemed guest. Zaide sings with surmountable passion as he welcomes the Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem, sings Aishes Chaiyl in honor of Bobeh, continues with the 23rd Tehillim (Psalms), and concludes with a soulful Kiddush and Blessing over the wine. Now seated, Zaide's lap becomes the throne for the family's youngest two, the next generation of Torah Chachamim. His wife, Bobeh, who sacrificed herself for her family all week, is seated next to him and is the Shabbat queen. She is donned in her Shabbat finery and is honored by her daughters, who serve the Shabbat meal allowing Bobeh to remain seated the entire meal in order that she be dignified and joyous while "drinking in" the words of Torah uttered by one or more reverent Shabbat guests. |