London Event Photographer - Bah Mitzvah at Holland Park Synagogue (Part 1)

Photographing in grand old architectural gems such as the Holland Park Synagogue, one of the oldest in London, is always a treat.  This was one of my first outings with my new XT2 Fuji cameras and the light was beautiful to work with.  I'd never witnessed a Bar Mitzvah before so it was a fascinating insight into another culture.   According to Jewish law, when a boy becomes 13 the ceremony is performed as they become accountable for their own actions.   The small leather boxes strapped to the participants arms are called Tefillin, or phylacteries (meaning 'to guard, protect' and contain scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah.