I came across the work of Chanan Getraide who takes dramatic photos of Israel. Some are a little too strong for my taste but when his work hits the spot, it hits the spot!

Sunflowers at Night

Anemone Field near Gaza

And the photos are for sale (image 1, image 2)!

The election is about to happen in the US and soon enough in Israel.

The economic forecasts stink.

All those smart men in DC managed to give away $250 billion dollars to banks that won’t lend it, thereby deepening the economic crisis they have given us. This, after receiving our hard-earned tax money to bail out their asses because they screwed up and did the opposite of what they were supposed to do as bankers. Brilliant!

But it’s shabbat. So, shabbat shalom!

Serial No. 3817131 is the title of Photographer Rachel Papo’s latest essay, showing the everyday routine of girls in the Israeli Army. Some photos look like the ones my brother took of us during our Birthright trip on Mt. Hermon, but a few clearly rise above the rest. Papo’s plan is to reveal the demanding compromise Israeli girls who choose the military route make: a 2 year interruption, albeit a necessary one to protect the State, takes it toll. That and a gun slung around a shoulder shouldn’t subtract any humanity from a soldier. I’m not saying they enhance it either, though hot chicks with sniper rifles are definitely making me feel pretty human right now.

Much thanks to Paolo Dy, a Filipino cinematographer who did us all a favor by putting The Hotties of the Israeli Army, the tachlis album for those of us whose time is short.

Do you want more Rachel Papo?!