Vince Leo: Remembered as a Blessing: Visitation Stones in Jewish Cemeteries

The Jewish tradition of leaving a stone or pebble at the gravesite of a loved one is an ancient custom of remembering the departed. Minneapolis-based photographer Vince Leo began taking photographs of these "visitation stones" after several people close to him died in quick succession, and he found himself enacting the ritual of grief over and over. Remembered as a Blessing contains 30 of Leo's black-and-white photographs, which honor these stones as the complex objects they are: simultaneously hard, durable pieces of matter and embodiments of ineffable spiritual relationships, often among many generations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2023
Publisher: MW Editions

The Jewish tradition of leaving a stone or pebble at the gravesite of a loved one is a deeply poignant and ancient custom that serves as a means of remembering and honoring the departed. Minneapolis-based photographer Vince Leo, born in 1949, began capturing these "visitation stones" after experiencing the loss of several close ones in quick succession. He found himself engaging in the ritual of grief over and over, as he placed these stones at the graves of his loved ones.

Placing a stone is a simple yet profound gesture that establishes a connection between the living and the dead. It is a way of acknowledging the profound impact that the departed has had on our lives and of expressing our gratitude for their memory. Remembered as a Blessing is a stunning collection of 30 black-and-white photographs by Leo, which celebrate these stones as the intricate and multifaceted objects they truly are.

At the same time, they are also embodiments of profound spiritual relationships, often spanning multiple generations. Each photograph in the collection fuses light, focus, viewpoint, reflection, and magnification into a single moment, where the ordinary and the symbolic coexist harmoniously.

Contributing to the book is acclaimed author Daniel Mendelsohn, whose essay provides a thoughtful and insightful perspective on the significance of this tradition. Mendelsohn explores the emotional and spiritual dimensions of leaving stones at gravesites, highlighting the ways in which it allows us to connect with our ancestors and with the larger community of mourners.

Through his photographs and essay, Vince Leo and Daniel Mendelsohn invite us to reflect on the importance of remembering and honoring the departed, and on the ways in which simple acts of kindness and compassion can have a profound impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. Remembered as a Blessing is a beautiful and moving testament to the enduring power of tradition and the human spirit.

Weight: 1168g
Dimension: 287 x 354 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781735762982