Norman H. Gershman

Norman H. Gershman is a fine art photographer with representation in various museums throughout the world. His work can best be defined as being humanistic, rather than photojournalism. Norman H. Gershman photographs with his heart. In his portraits he captures the soul of people usually through eye contact. He has brought people together with his former work in the Soviet Union, Cuba and currently with his 5-year project of portraits and profiles of "Muslim Families Who Saved Jews in WW2." It is though his camera, and ability to engage his subject on an intimate level, that enables his portraits to pass though the veil of anonymity and give back to the recipient themselves.

Gershman's Photographs are purposeful. What comes though is his overriding belief in the goodness of people reflected in his portraits. Virtually all of his work is done with available light. Quoting the legendary photographer Eugene Smith: "Any light that is available."

In his early years Gershman had studied with many of the great photographers ultimately honing his own style. He has been a collector and dealer of fine art photography and has published, lectured, exhibited and written extensively on photography. His work is represented in the permanent collection of The International Center of Photography, The Brooklyn Museum, The Aspen Art Museum, Rizzoli and several venues in Russia. In Israel his work: "Birobidjan: The Jewish Autonomous Region" is represented in the permanent collection of Beth Hatefutsoth, the Museum of The Jewish Diaspora, in Tel Aviv. Many international leaders and scholars have praised his work such as former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, President Jimmy Carter, Madam Jehen Sadat, Congressman Tom Lantos, Dr. Mordecai Paldiel of Yad Vashem, Noble Laureate Elie Wiesel, Dr. Akbar Ahmed of American University as well as Chairman Emeritus Cornell Capa, Founder of the International Center of Photography.

A film Documentary of "Muslims Who Saved Jews in WW2" is Currently a work in progress for international release in early 2009 along with a photographic book published by Syracuse University Press. Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Israel, is sponsoring a traveling exhibition of "Besa: Righteous Albanian Muslims Who Saved Jews in WW2." This Exhibition was premiered at the United Nations in January 2008 and is now traveling the world. There is currently an expanded exhibition of "Muslims Who Saved Jews in WW2" at The Hebrew Union College on West 4th Street just off Broadway and will be on display until July.