Speaking of Hope Through Our Photo Competition

Twelve-year-old Iowa native Meir Simcha Rubashkin documents his personal view of his hometown in Postville with specific snapshots and captions. The story his photographs tell is one of the past, present, and future.

Born in Iowa after four siblings and later becoming big brother to even more, Meir Simcha’s ties to Postville are through both his family and the physical land. Ever since the Rubashkin family purchased the meat plant out in Iowa about twenty years ago, Postville has seen tremendous growth in many, many ways.

With that growth came hardship, the family soon discovered. When the federal government raided Agriprocessors and shut down operations, everyone in the small town suffered. And yet, despite the strain on so many, the community bonded as one in its fight for justice to be served Meir Simcha’s uncle, Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin.

Having been raised with a strong focus on Judaic education, Meir Simcha has channeled his emotions into his learning, and secondarily into his art. His belief in the imminent coming of Mashiach keeps him upbeat that, G-d willing, his family should continue helping others in need. Since March of this year, Meir Simcha’s class has been learning Tanya by heart with his father, Tzvi Hirsch Rubashkin. Additionally, both shooting photographs and playing the violin serve as meaningful outlets for the boy who will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah next year.

The story Meir Simcha’s images tell is one that many Jews feel in connection to the ongoing trial that has had such a profound effect on their lives. The wave of unprecedented unity and the strong Chassidic foundation Meir Simcha has received while growing up in Postville, Iowa, enables him to see a bright future and to begin working on attaining that now.

Click Here to view his photo competition entry. Click Here to visit the competition homepage. The photo competition is a project of CrownHeights.info.