The World in Front of Me: A Bill Aron Retrospective is a new podcast series and exhibition from the American Jewish Historical Society detailing the illustrious career of acclaimed photographer Bill Aron. Told through five eras of history, the exhibition and podcast will explore Aron’s work as well as hear from the artist himself about his experience documenting Jewish communities across the globe.
The World in Front of Me: A Bill Aron Retrospective is a new podcast series and exhibition from the American Jewish Historical Society detailing the illustrious career of acclaimed photographer Bill Aron. Told through five eras of history, the exhibition and podcast will explore Aron’s work as well as hear from the artist himself about his experience documenting Jewish communities across the globe.
About The Exhibition
The World in Front of Me: A Bill Aron Retrospective is a celebration of Jewish life in the United States and beyond, celebrating the diversity of the Jewish experience across the world. Co-curated by Bill Aron and AJHS, the home to Aron’s extensive archives, the exhibition showcases over 50 original photographs that tell the story of Aron’s expansive career documenting Jewish life over five decades.
On view February 5 – June 4, 2026 at the Center for Jewish History, 15 W 16th St, New York, NY.
Hours and visitor information can be found here.
Admission is free.
About The Podcast
In the summer of 2025, journalist and writer Ruth Andrew Ellenson sat down with famed photographer Bill Aron, and recorded more than 12 hours of interviews. For nearly 50 years, Bill traveled the world, photographing Jewish communities as near as his home of Los Angeles, and as far away as the Soviet Union. From the American South to Cuba, from New York to Jerusalem, Bill captured it all. This series reveals never before heard stories from the artist himself.
About Bill
Bill Aron (b. 1941) is an award-winning American photographer whose moving portraits of individuals and communities have been exhibited in major museums and galleries throughout the United States and Israel, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Jewish Museum in New York. Represented by the Pucker Gallery in Boston since 1975, he has published several books of his photographic works, beginning with From the Corners of the Earth (1986) and most recently New Beginnings: The Triumphs of 120 Cancer Survivors (2015). Aron lives and maintains his studio in California.
About Ruthie
Ruth Andrew Ellenson is an award-winning writer and journalist, currently serving as the inaugural Writer-in-Residence and Strategic Storyteller at the 1906 Group. Ruthie’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, and she has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning. A graduate of Columbia University’s MFA program, she has collaborated on a wide range of editorial and literary projects—including books and op-eds—with leaders in both the nonprofit and private sectors. Her debut book, published by Penguin Random House, became a national bestseller and won a National Jewish Book Award. She brings deep expertise in both traditional and emerging media, and is a frequent speaker on writing, storytelling, and the evolving media landscape. She has known Bill Aron, and been photographed by him, since she was two years old.
The World In Front of Me - Podcast Episodes
Episode 101
February 4, 2026
Episode 102
February 4, 2026
Episode 103
February 11, 2026
Episode 104
February 18, 2026
Episode 105
February 25, 2026
Episode 106
March 4, 2026
Episode 107
Coming March 11, 2026
Cuba
Episode 108
Coming March 18, 2026
Israel
Episode 109
Coming March 25, 2026
Los Angeles
Events and Group bookings
Event information coming soon.
For group tours, contact info@ajhs.org.
Sponsors
The World in Front of Me is presented by Jay and Gretchen Stein, with generous support from the Knapp Family Foundation, the Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation in Honor of Alan Bloch, Scott and Dianne Einhorn, The Karetsky Family, and Michael and Corie Koss.