BDE: Remembering the Life & Work of Simcha Elazar Jessel‎

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Simcha Jessel's funeral. (Credit: Liami Lawrence)

Over the weekend Israel commemorates Yom Hazikaron, a day to remember the 23,169 soldiers who died, as well as Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence day. Sadly one such soldier who had a great love for Israel and it’s people, died this weekend. Simcha Elazar Jessel Z”L, a  photojournalist and documentarian who collaborated with Only Simchas on multiple projects. Simcha died an untimely death, earlier today when his motorcycle slid out of control and killed him instantly.

Simcha Jessel’s funeral. (Credit: Laura Ben-David)

Always thinking of others, Simcha had recently paid an homage to others who die untimely deaths with motorcycles.

“One day, I will ride again, and I will go to every funeral. I will park my bike at a distance and walk the rest of the way on foot. I will stand with my head bent, helmet under my arm, and keep my distance from the other mourners, because after all, I’m not family, or even a friend. I will come if for nothing else, to remind myself that life is too valuable to be lost in an instant,”  Simcha wrote.

He continued “And at the close, when the rest have gone home, I will quietly, hesitantly, approach the fresh grave, I will apologize that I never had the privilege of knowing him in life, I will say a quiet prayer, and I will swear that his death will not have been in vain. I will be riding home safely, tonight.”

 

Simcha Elazar Jessel Z”L, made aliya from Toronto with his family when he was just a toddler. He launched ‘Humans of Jerusalem’ on Facebook in February 2015, two years into his army service. Humans of Jerusalem was modeled after the world-famous blog created by Brandon Stanton, ‘Humans of New York’. The photo group that has over 15 million “likes” on Facebook.

Simcha was fiercely proud of his Jewish and Israeli roots, and always viewed it as an honor and a responsibility to document the people and the stories of his people. Humans of Jerusalem focused on the diverse stories of the people of Jerusalem.

Simcha viewed himself as more than just a photographer but as a documentarian as well. His photos told a story and his  story telling process involved traveling all over Jerusalem, attending festivals, family reunions, events, gatherings and conducting impromptu on the street interviews with a continual parade of interesting humans who were excited to share their story with him.  Today we share Simcha’s story, which you can see through his photographic art and sentiments that his friends left on his Facebook wall, like a stone on a grave.

“Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night, Gone too soon”

Below is some of Simcha’s incredible work. It was said by all that Simcha had a great eye for that perfect shot and he was a wordsmith who would always have the perfect words to go with the photo.

Perhaps one of Simcha’s most famous photographs was one that didn’t need need  words.

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