It’s not everyday you see a father standing next to their child with an automatic rifle hanging from their neck. That was the situation I found myself in this year during my gap year in Israel on Young Judaea Year Course. The Israel that I knew and experienced only two years ago was drastically different from the one I was in this year. I found myself in an Israel that was broken and grieving, yet strong and united. I saw strangers embrace at hostage square, watched as thousands showed up to support Yarden Bibas as he buried his wife and children, and saw my own counselor drop everything to go to reserve duty. Everyday was filled with these unique and unparalleled moments that I knew I had to capture with my camera.
As I look back through the hundreds of photos taken throughout my nine months in Israel, I see the signature Israeli attitude shining through. One of my favorite photographs that I took this year was of a child sitting by a tree at Habima Square, in Tel Aviv, a place that holds weekly demonstrations for the plight of the hostages. To me, this image embodies the current mood in Israel, the desire to keep going on with life while fighting for the hostages. Another photo that I found to be incredibly powerful was of a woman wearing a floor length skirt clutching her hands near her heart with a saddened expression as she looked at a wall covered in posters of hostages. This photo showed me that Israelis, no matter their level of observation or political affiliation, cared for the hostages. These are just two examples of the hundreds of little moments that I managed to capture during my time in Israel. The Israel I found myself in was more authentic and raw compared to the other times I have been there. The daily attitude of those around me was filled with hope and promise while carrying the baggage of October 7th and the war. My time in Israel over this past year strengthened my ties to my Judaism and to Israel and provided me with a powerful connection to the people in Israel whose attitude gave me hope for the future.
