Shekhina

by Donald B. Kuspit and Leonard Nimoy

Essay by Donald Kuspit The first monograph by famed actor and director Leonard Nimoy, this eerily beautiful photographic study of the female form reveals Nimoy's intrigue with Old Testament mythology... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1884167160
• ISBN13: 9781884167164
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Umbrage Editions
• Length: 94 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 10.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Prudes make me mad

I shouldn't be dumbfounded by some of the negative responses this book has evoked. And yet I am. As a deeply religious and spiritual person, as a feminist, and also a photographer of classical nudes not unlike those presented in this book, I commend Nimoy's work. 1. From an artistic perspective the technique, composition, and visual impact is intense and yet quiet. 2. From a feminist perspective, this work does NOT objectify women, but rather celebrates them. Mr. Nimoy has never been one to objectify women's bodies, as he made so clear with his Full Body Project in which he sympathetically photographed very, very rotund women. His very reference to Shekhina, the female aspect of the Hebrew God Yahweh (if you don't know anything about her, please look her up) shows his deep respect for women. Yes, these women are naked, but they are clothed in their own strength. They are not presented as objects of lust, but rather as beings connected to the spiritual realm. The nudity just serves to add to the poignancy, intimacy, and sincerity of the work. 3. Spiritually, there is nothing remotely insulting about this work. Nudity is not a filthy thing, just as sex is not (although this work is clearly not about sex.) Yahweh put Adam and Eve into the garden stark naked, because this was His idea of perfection, innocence, and beauty. It wasn't until sin came into play that clothes entered the scene -- Adam and Eve came up with the idea of clothing, and Yahweh just went along with it. Clothing is a social construct created by humans in reaction to their own shame. Worshiping before God nude shows our vulnerability, shows that we hold no barriers between ourselves and the Divine, and that we come to Him as He created us. Simultaneously, this work challenges conservative Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives of women that suggest they are the originators of sin and evil, and therefore do not have the same right or ability to connect with God as men (and as such are not allowed to be religious leaders.) He particularly highlights woman's ability to create and harbor life within herself, using this as an example of her unique form of spirituality. Mr. Nimoy's women approach God without the shame in relation to their womanhood and their supposed original sin, concepts the religious right tries to pound into them. Their femininity and pride therein is emphasized by their nakedness. On all counts, a provocative, artistic, rich, reverent, inspiring work.

Beautiful and inspiring.

Contrary to some of the amusingly horrified reviews here, every single page of Shekhina is not plastered with breasts or splayed genitals. Of course there is nudity- full nudity on a couple of pages- but it is very tastefully done (if you're looking for pictures of naked women in an erotic context, look elsewhere). Nimoy's photography depicts these women reverently and they very much bring across the spirituality he intended.

wow

This book really surprised me. I never expected Nimoy to be such a great photographer. We know him as Spock, and we've seen his acting. We know his poetry has pretty much been ranked as one of the worst ever, but Nimoy really found his voice with the camera. This book is sensual, artistic, and never crude. It's beautiful work, and I look forward to seeing more of his work.

Strangely, a much-needed portrayal of Jewish women

I can understand how the religious would be offended by this work; it's got all the ingredients that would offend religious people.But - but but but - I also have this to say.As a Jewish woman, I'm tired of turning on the TV or going to a film and seeing negative portrayals of Jewish women. In film, actors like Ben Stiller are routinely - and almost exclusively - paired with blond, WASP leading ladies. This sends the wrong message. It makes Jewish women feel bad about themselves, and gives Jewish men the message that something is wrong with Jewish women.Nimoy's work will not seem "Kosher" to many. However, my immediate, gut emotional response - was to seeing an attractive, sensual portrayal of a Jewish woman on the cover, even if it was somewhat "immodest".Does this represent me as a Jewish woman?I sure hope so!Does Fran Drescher?Absolutely NOT.THANK YOU, Mr Nimoy, for a much-needed celebration of Jewish femininity.

women in the light

Ever been to a Jewel Kilcher concert? She's like an angel, everything pure and full of love, but so human. She's a real life example of everything Nimoy is trying to convey in this book. Angels among us, or the ideal force of a feminine divinity, spreading light and goodness only if we are sensitive to her presence. Women are elevated to share the spotlight with male divinity in Judaica, ecstatic angels, eyes closed to greet the light.There's been a lot of fuss about the mix of religion and sensuality in this book, but half of the pictures don't even have anything revealing in them. What is visible in the other half is presented in the classiest way possible. These women are not presented as objects of our material posession, but as a physical representation of spiritual beauty. Some of the women glow from within, or are blurred into the ethereal. Most dramatic, in my opinion, are what he describes as a "spiritual pregnancy" and "spiritual birth" -- glowing light from within a woman's dress and then being born from her womb.The text, also, has interesting and beautiful concepts in it. It may not be for everyone, but if you don't like it, don't look at it :-) That's what he said, anyway.