In the midst of isolation, the Zionist Organization initiated a photographic competition among Jewish communities around the world, relating to the connection to Israel. • These are some of the final photographs.
The Corona crisis has seriously damaged the lives of many Jewish communities around the world. The Diaspora Department of the World Zionist Organization has been debating in recent weeks about how to maintain contact with communities, and with Israeli enthusiasts throughout the world, precisely on these challenging days.
Alongside the daily online activities, the department has launched an international photography competition, in the spirit of Israel's 72nd Independence Day. Participants were called to send a photograph from the isolation routine, which would describe or symbolize their special relationship with Israel.
The competition is held in collaboration with the Jewish Agency, the Beit Hatfutsot Museum, the Israeli Embassy in the United Kingdom and the Keren Hayesod. The panel includes the Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac (Buzzi) Herzog, founding member of Sam Foundation Foundation, British Ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev, former Minister Tzipi Livni, photographer Ziv Koren and photographer-creator Erez Kaganovich.
The winning photos will be selected by the judges and by an audience vote on the department's Facebook page (the vote is open until Wednesday at 22:00), and will be exhibited at the Beit Hatfutsot Museum in Tel Aviv. The first prize: a plane ticket to Israel.
"When we realized that the situation was going to continue for a long time, we organized to allow everyone in the world to mark Memorial Day with us and celebrate Independence Day," explains Diaspora Department Gusty Joshua Braverman. "Our challenge during this time is to continue to give Diaspora Jews the sense of home, belonging and 'togetherness'. Although participants in the competition cannot visit Israel now, as they would like, they can be with us in photography and sharing, despite the distance."
The flags' children
Photo: Dale Lazar (71), USA
"The picture shows a group of preschool children during an initiation ceremony (typical of the Reformed community) at Simchat Torah holiday at Temple Sinai Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania."
Protective Examination
Photo: Wen Phi (24), Vietnam
"The picture shows me and five of my friends forming a Star of David together, symbolizing for us the fact that we are united."
Israeli work
Photo: Olga Miriam (33), Belarus
"I am a member of the Beit Simcha community in Minsk, create Judaica and embroider pictures of 'My Israel' - all handmade. I am always happy to tell everyone about Israel and its history through art."
Our Israel
Photo: Daniel Shadmi (22), UK
"Closed in our apartment, Independence Day 2020 looks less festive than usual. And yet, we have gathered around us the little things that remind us of the essence of the holiday. We felt close, and we continue to strive for next year in Jerusalem."
Everything is awesome
Photo: Jonathan Bohorodzner (37), Chile
"In this picture, of my children Bear (7), Michael (4) and Hannah (9), I wanted to illustrate the sentence: Israel is our identity."
Country City
Photo: Avraham Leibovsky Gasman (40), Mexico
"In the days of the closure, we still played games with the whole family. Israel is always in our hearts."
My stage
Photo: Young Jiang (27), China
"Selfie I shot in Habima Square in Israel in the 70's. I came to graduate school in business and got to celebrate Independence Day with the wonderful people. It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my life, with local music And Israeli culture. "
Chinese Talmud
Photo: Zang Ziking (20), China
"I am a Chinese, and although I am far from Israel, mountain and river distance, my feelings for her are so close. I love Talmud and want to spend my entire life studying books."
The rolling of a coat
Photo: Natalie Lovetton (21), Mexico
"In the photo, I selected significant items that represent what I experienced in Israel: The IDF jacket represents the US and Israel programs and all the soldiers I met. MDA jacket symbolizes service My in the organization. The arrangement and the dome symbolize the connection to God. And the sunglasses are the sparkle of the Israelis. The grass in the background symbolizes the wilderness bloom in the desert. "
Plant deep
Photo: Bella Himmelfarb (46), Colombia
"Through the palms I created a heart shape, which I filled in the ground with which I planted the flag of Israel. All these represent my love for the land."
Prayer in Havana
Photo: Fidel Babi (59), Cuba
"This picture was taken on my cell phone, at my home gate in Havana, in honor of Israel's 72nd Independence Day. That's how Torah is learned in the Corona."
Storage Space
Photo: Goldstein family, South Africa
"These are the objects in our home that symbolize the connection to Israel: my mother's sacred vessels bought in Israel, my brother's mitzvah from the Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall, Israeli food, sunscreen, a map I bought in the market in Tel Aviv, a rifle reminiscent of IDF soldiers , Mataka, Stream Soda Device and Israeli Hair Removal Device. "
On the map
Photo: Esau Venani (28), Uganda
"This is the image that reflects the prayer with which I open each morning, and the map of Israel is my way of navigating my way."
foretoken
Photo: Martha Susan (38), Hungary
"In the photo, I wanted to convey the message that the Hebrew language is most important to us, and we work hard to pass it on to our children from the moment of their birth. My 6-year-old daughter, Noa, who is here, was born in Hungary, but already speaks, writes and reads Hebrew. ".
We conquered Hollywood
Photo: Maayan Waldman (21), USA
"When the epidemic hit, my sister Adira returned home to Los Angeles from her magical year of service at Kibbutz Ein Hanatziv. As a born dancer, she never missed a chance to jump."