Israel, Stripped
Photographer Ofir Ben Tov approaches Israel from a lofty perch: the sky. His aerial images create a narrative that connects the biblical sages to modern-day Israelis through the trees, mountains and oceans that have always been there, bearing witness to our complicated history.
Ben Tov has devoted himself to aerial art ever since he photographed enemy territories in the Israeli army. “The holy land of Israel, stripped of politics and strife, [is] an amazing canvas from the sky,” he said. His photographs, taken from his Insight From Above collection, echo the Zionism of his grandparents — Israeli immigrants from Germany and Yemen who were captivated by the promise of the land. Ben Tov’s Aerial Image Bank project, a collection of photographs of landscapes, cities and holy sites, can be viewed and purchased at www.israelimagebank.com, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for Israeli charities.
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
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