Within the Image – To develop photography and textual resources that will enable learners in a variety of educational settings to explore Israel’s history, culture, and significance in Jewish life and tradition.

How can photography have such a profound educational impact on learners?

Among the various art forms, photography stands out to me as emotionally impactful, accessible, and easy to practice. Yet, while we have spent generations learning how to read and analyze texts, we often overlook the importance of studying the language of photography. An example of the impact photography can have on learners are my former projects,  the Jewish Lens and DiverCity Lens (in partnership with the New York City Department of Education). Both curriculums have been dedicated to transforming education by integrating three key pillars: experience, emotion, and empowerment. Both curriculums have been successful in facilitating nuanced and engaged dialogue for both Jewish and non-Jewish learners. 

Another inspiration for this project was an art installation I created at Columbia University’s School of Social Work. The positive reception to this work over the past year and a half inspired me to want to share this photography more broadly both geographically and with more diverse curricula. 

What part of this project are you most looking forward to implementing?

I am looking forward to embedding the project and curriculum into many formal and informal educational settings across North America. Historically, we have neglected to enhance our visual literacy and to grasp both its straightforward meaning and its deeper nuances and perspectives. “Picturing Israel: History, Heritage, and Homeland” offers a collection of lesson plans that use photography as a gateway to explore the most significant moments in Jewish history and the connection to the ancient Land of Israel. These dynamic and focused lesson plans are especially vital in the wake of the tragic events of October 7th. They provide our educators and students with essential facts and foundational knowledge, empowering them to take pride in their heritage and to respond more effectively to antisemitism.

What is something you wish you had had an opportunity to photograph?

I have tried more than once to travel to Iran to document the local Jewish community there, but have not been allowed into the country by the local authorities. I hope, as I continue in my career as a photographer and educator, to use photography as a tool to raise up parts of the Jewish community that have been historically left out of the communal dialogue.