Protect Their Privacy

The publicizing of pictures of bereaved relatives at funerals (such as those following terrorist attacks) has perturbed me for some time now.  How many frum publications publicized photos of the grieving father and brothers of Ruth Fogel? Avla number one is that some ghoul had the chutzpa to photograph the bereaved at the funeral. Avla number two is when editors choose to share the photo with their readership.

Where is the sense of shame that characterizes the Jewish people that should have ensured that their privacy was not violated by picture taking at that time? Where is the sense of propriety at frum publications that should have ensured that personal moments of bereavement, even in public venues, are not for us to gawk at?

On a very different but related note, I have given thought lately to how people gather round to watch as the chassan approaches the kalla to cover her face.  People glance from the chasan to the kalla to see the expressions on their faces.  Do they look happy to see one another or nervous? How are the parents reacting in this emotional moment? This also seems to be an invasion of privacy.  Members of the wedding party should be able to be in the moment and not have to be concerned about how they appear to others.  And yet, unlike the bereaved, they hired a photographer and want pictures to be taken of the badeken and under the chuppa so I conclude that this gives the guests "permission" to watch the proceedings.