 Inside the Damascus Gate Old City, Jerusalem, 1994
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Inside the Damascus Gate sits the heart of the Moslem Quarter of the Old City. On
Shabbat, numerous Orthodox Jews enter through this gate to get to the Western
Wall. Although the Old City is divided into separate quarters, the different
worlds overlap in this small area. This photo was taken as this father and son were returning from morning prayers. I deliberately painted everything in the photo in a lively, colorful way so as to accent how the religious Jews (who only dress in black and white) stand out in the Arab market. |
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During the days of the Palestinian Uprising, or Intifada, traveling through the
West Bank could be dangerous. Yet despite the barrage of stones and firebombs
that might greet me, I decided to attend the Samaritan Pesach sacrifice on Mt.
Gerizim, near Nablus. The day was not relaxing. The drive was stressful, while the actual sheep sacrifice was bloody and gory. Ironically, this photo is my favorite image taken that day. While walking along the hillsides before the Pesach ceremony, I happened upon this scene of tranquility and peace. |  Sheep Mt. Gerizim, 1991
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 Jaffa The Old Port, 1990
| While the upper level of Old Jaffa has been renovated, the polished streets which house upscale shops and galleries are quite sterile. When I visit the city, I prefer to walk down the winding steps to the lower level where the world's oldest port still exist. There the smell of the sea hangs in the air, while fishermen prepare their nets for a night's work. I love to wander around the old buildings, with their peeling paint, cracked walls and unique markings, and imagine who lives within their walls. |
| Independence Day, 1992, occurred after several Israelis had been stabbed by Palestinians. While the atmosphere surrounding this holiday is always euphoric, this year it seemed imbued with an added purpose as thousands of Israelis flooded the Western Wall area to celebrate. |
 Israel Independence Day Western Wall, 1992
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 Deheishe Refugee Camp, West Bank. 1994
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The living conditions in the Deheishe Refugee camp near Bethlehem are sparse. The quarters are cramped with little or no running water, and open sewers overflow into the streets. A large percentage of the population is unemployed.
In spite of the hardships, the family unit is strong as the young and the old
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Wars and terrorists acts have left many Israeli families bereaved.The nation mourns each loss of life on the annual Remembrance Day.
The sight is particularly poignant as thousands pour through the gates of the military cemetery in Jerusalem to honor their loved ones. At first, the sight of endless rows of mourners draped across graves left me unable to take on photograph. For six years, I observed - but did not have the courage to take a photograph of this grieving woman whose son was killed in the Six Day War, 1967. Each year her sorrow seemed more intense; and, with time, I realized that I must capture this image.
|  Grave Memorial Day, Mt. Herzel, Jerusalem. 1999
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 The Crying Valley, Israeli-Syrian Border, 1994
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From 1948-67, the Syrians used the Golan Heights as a base of operations to attack Israel. Jewish villages in the valley
were persistently shelled by Syrian artillery. On June 6, 1967, the Syrian Army attacked Israel, but by the end of the Six
Day War, Israel had gained control of the Golan Heights. The Druse villages that were once a part of Syria were now under
Israeli control leaving families split between the new border. This Druse woman has not seen some of her relatives since 1967. The valley, where she stands, has been named "The Crying Valley" because the separated families shout through a megaphone to communicate with one another. The woman asked if I had a long telephoto lens so that she could see her brother and his wife on the opposite side of the valley. I did not.
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