Stories of Israel

Anyone trying to comprehend the mosaic that is Israeli society will find its elements to be surprisingly diverse. This exhibition provides an opportunity to explore some of those different elements, as captured through the lens of Israel's leading news and documentary photographers. The nature of their profession makes these women and men highly attuned to the pulse and essence of Israel.

These images would not necessarily catch your eye upon a casual visit to the country. Most might be considered atypical. This project is an attempt to present the photographers' unique ways of building a story, by choosing an extreme - sometimes bizarre - angle in order to shed light on the larger picture; using the sidelines to sketch out the idea of the midline. This is the kind of storytelling which the exhibition seeks to highlight. Opposites, conflicts, contradictions - all converge in one complex, blunt and intriguing entity: Israel.

The images in "Stories of Israel" were all part of the "Local Testimony" photojournalism exhibitions in recent years. Since launched in 2003, the annual exhibition has evolved into a leading event on Israel's cultural calendar. Every year, the editorial team and jury screen nearly 10,000 images submitted to the competition by the region's top news and magazine photographers. The 300 winning images are compiled into a photographic retrospective of the preceding 12 months, documenting realms ranging from hardcore news to sports and the arts.

Sample panel 1
Sample panel 2
Sample panel 3

Below is a small selection of the exhibition photographs, which will be displayed around the world under the auspices of Israel's embassies and consulates:
 

Abir Sultan / Blue press
One of a series of photos of the Israeli coast: The Tel Aviv beach

Michal Fattal / Flash 90
Trance Party at the Ha'uman 17 nightclub in Jerusalem, one of Israel's first mega-clubs. Though it closed in mid-2007 after over a decade, the Tel Aviv branch is still going strong.

Ahikam Seri / Panos Pictures
A couple of elderly religious Jews observe the 2008 Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade from their balcony.

Eldad Rafaeli / Telerama, Yedioth Ahronoth
On the threshold of adulthood, Israeli youths express a diverse world of identities: Snir, a leading tattoo artist.

Ahikam Seri / Independent Photographer
Arwad Abu-Shain, a 25 year-old bride from the Druze village of Bu'qata, on her way to the Israel-Syria border to meet her Syrian fiancé.

Liron Almog / Independent photographer
The Kibbutz Dance Company, (filmed here in "Ekodoom"), established in 1970 is today an acclaimed dance company both in Israel and abroad.

Lior Mizrachi
One of a series of photos of the Israeli coast: The Dead Sea

Michal Fattal / Flash90
"Bnei Hamenashe" from Manipur and Mizoram in northern India seek their roots as descendents of one of the lost tribes of Israel.

Gil Cohen Magen / Reuters
Hassidic Jews in Me'a She'arim, Jerusalem, celebrate Simchat Torah, marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of Torah reading and the beginning of a new cycle, just after the festival of Sukkot.

Daniel Tchetchik / Haaretz
Jewish Yonit Giar and Arab Leil Hanna rest after school near the beach in the city of Jaffa.

Asaf Kliger / Jerusalem Post
Venessa Alush, who starred in the Israeli version of "Big Brother", is a professional jockey who participated in the Israeli horseracing championships in April 2008.

Hagai Hirschfeld / Independent Photographer
The drag queens soiree, which started at the Shushan gay club in Jerusalem, has become a hit in comedy clubs nationwide.