Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem, 2014
Category: Israel
In Jerusalem Again
Wednesday September 25th, 2013 @ 11:37 AM
When the beards get longer, the hats weirder, the guns bigger, the domes more golden and the ailes more narrow, when the trams get too crowded, your roomies french, the politics more complicated, the stones whiter, the hill slopes smoother, the cabbies more rude and the sky clearer – then you know that you are in Jerusalem again. Hello!
History and guilt in the US, Germany, actually, everywhere
Tuesday August 13th, 2013 @ 09:48 PM
History and guilt
Can America face up to the terrible reality of slavery in the way that Germany has faced up to the Holocaust?
This is a very interesting read.For Germans, Americans, Israelis, Palestinians, Australians, Kurds, Turks. For everyone, actually. Because – without questioning the singularity of events – I cannot think of one nation who did not stomp over other peoples rights in its history. (If you can, let me know) Inflicting sorrow to their fellow humans is a common trait of all people. Take that into account, try to fully understand what it means that there is no “good nation”, no “light unto the nations”, no “God’s own country”, that in the end nations always do good *and* bad – it becomes a lesson of humbleness you can not forget nor ignore. That is why coming to the terms with the past is so important.
Photo: Scene from “Django Unchained”
Before the Storm
Saturday March 23rd, 2013 @ 03:15 PM
Tower of David, November 2012
What I learned in an Israeli elementary school about the Conflict
Tuesday March 19th, 2013 @ 08:27 PM
These are Itamar and Muthana. Itamar is a jewish boy and Muthana son of bedouins. They are best friends and attend the same class in a school in Be’er Sheva. That is special because the school system in Israel is segregated (like the rest of society). Schools like this are rare.
I am profiling Itamars and Muthanas school for a German kids magazine right now. I realised something interesting while writing the piece. Explaining this conflict on a kids level is actually really simple: “Two people, one home” like in “Two kids, one toy”. Even a reasonable solution is quite obvious on this basic level: “Share the home, share the toy.”
But explaining to a young audience why nobody solved the conflict yet if causes and solution are that well understood would be a tough call. Not only for me but the most knowledgeable scholars around, I guess. Is it because of a lack of talking to each other? A lack of venues to meet and exchange? A lack of good will?
It is a question of “process” in the end, of the path that leads from recognizing causes to reaching a solution.
That means for any iniative that is supposed to break this deadlock: If you cannot explain to a kid how you would go about it, you cannot explain it all.
It is bound to fail then.
Left to Right
Thursday March 7th, 2013 @ 05:49 PM
Israel, the Wall, West Bank and Gaza (left to right)
– Shot in Ramallah this week –
Stand Easy!
Sunday March 3rd, 2013 @ 03:01 PM
An Israeli soldier pays no attention to his commander at an oath ceremony at the Western Wall of Jerusalem. Admittingly, it was quite a boring event for the soldiers. Only the parents of the soldiers liked it alot and could not stop taking pictures – like me.
Purim
Monday February 25th, 2013 @ 05:52 PM
Usually, when you ask a young jewish Israeli what this and this holiday is about they do not really bother to give you the details but sum it up as follows: “Somebody try to kill us, they did not suceed, let’s eat.” This line explains alot of festivals. But on Purim it is different, somewhat. According to the bible somebody tried to kill them (the Persians), they did not suceed (thanks to Esther)… let’s drink until we are completely drunk, that’s a talmudic ruling. The whole nation from the liberal, secular neighborhoods of Tel Aviv to the ultraorthodox Jerusalem-quarter of Mea Shearim descends into a five-day-craze that is very similar to carnival in christian countries (who copied whom is not known). People dress up und you meet drunk Santa Claus, Zombies and Bees.
Resting in Nazareth
Friday February 8th, 2013 @ 11:32 AM
A women is resting in the Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth. Legend says that Gabriel spoke to Virgin Mary at this spot. Religion can be sooo exhausting.
– Oktober 2012 –
How ‘riots’ can develop – in your imagination only
Tuesday January 29th, 2013 @ 07:39 PMA fitting post scriptum to my recent post: Italian photographer Ruben Salvadori shows how conflicts can be staged
Photojournalism Behind the Scenes [ITA-ENG subs] from Ruben Salvadori on Vimeo.
A half hour in the West Bank – from Olive Oil to Cryptonite
Tuesday January 29th, 2013 @ 09:22 AM
I only wanted to now how the occupation makes the olive harvest harder for the Palestinian on a tour through the West Bank in October. But I learned another message: My camera is cryptonite for soldiers. Continue reading “A half hour in the West Bank – from Olive Oil to Cryptonite”
Wadi Rum II
The Janitor of Petra
Retro
Shabbat in Mitzpe Ramon
The Kaiser in Jerusalem
Ghosts VII
Ghosts VI
Ghosts V
Ghosts IV
Ghosts III
Ghosts II
Ghosts I
Eitan Cohen and the question of priests in judaism
Sthreimel
Redeemer Church and the Hair
Christian Procession
Party at the Shuk
The Lock to divide
Doing Laundry, Watching People
