Israel

In 1951, Laelia travelled with her husband, the conductor, Walter Goehr, to the newly-formed state of Israel. She was commisioned to photograph the Jewish Yemeni community as well as many of the leading Israeli figures of the time. It was reported in the Jewish Chronicle on May 4th 1951 that they flew back to London from Israel on the inaugural bi-weekly flight from Israel to New York via London with David Ben-Gurion and other important Israeli figures.

An exhibition of 80 of her photos, including the ones from Israel, were exhibited at Ben Uri Gallery, London in May 1952. The exhibition was opened by Mr David F. Kessler, Managing Director of the Jewish Chronicle. It was the first time that a photographer had been exhibited in this gallery. Not only was Laelia a well respected photographer but the gallery wanted to give an opportunity to a Jewish photographer.

‘They had only to look at Laelia Goehr’s photographs and to see their very high aesthetic significance to recognise that there was an artistic quality about photography which was far beyond mere craftsmanship’
David F. Kessler (Jewish Chronicle)