Jerusalem Old City Panorama (Photo)

Click the photo for a much larger image.

Jaffa Gate, a chief entrance to Jerusalem's Old City, looking towards the fading sunset, and western Jerusalem during Hanukkah, 2009.

"David's Tower" is at the left, and Jerusalem's landmark King David Hotel is seen in the distance, to the left of the menorah. (Dave Bender: All rights reserved)

Jewish Youth, Lost & Found, Pro & Con

Haviv Rettig, in a very nuanced and insightful article at The Jerusalem Post, about the Jewish collective, and/or individualistic "Lost and Found."

The article comes in response to the uproar over a recent video ad campaign by Masa - "Trek" - an Israel-based group offering cultural programming geared towards stemming assimilation among diaspora Jewish youth, similar to the US-based Birthright program.

Un-embeddable video (what's up with that, editors?): http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1194419829128&pagename=JPost%2FPage%2FVideoPlayer&videoId=1251804482457

Read it all.

Shabbat Shalom From Eilat

The mountains of Eilat (Landscape photos: Pria Bender)

Acco: Jumping for joy (Original photography)

Acco: Jumping For Joy. (Dave Bender)

Acco youth jumping into the sea at the end of a hot summer's day. He wasn't hurt by the razor-sharp barnacles, and stones of the wash. I b&w'ed the rocks in the background, in order to bring the kid to the forefront.

Click here for another image from this series.

Debka dancing on the edge (original photography)

No, not that Debka... but this one:

'Dancing On The Edge' (Dave Bender)

A shot of two Israeli Arab youths from Acco, near Haifa, as they alternate diving into the waters off of the Crusader-era ruins, adjacent to the walled Old City. Their poses as they gingerly stepped across the rocks reminded me of a sort of "dance frieze."

Originally a color shot, I am trying to shorten the b&w learning curve (btw - via a stunning stills/video photog site: Radiant Vista), and this is an early try. Some Photoshopping, to bring out the clouds, and tonal "oomph" that b&w does so well. Comments, critique (and cash) are all welcomed.