Streaks in Solace

I spent the 2024 summer in Israel on a youth program I’d been planning to attend for 8 years since the first summer I spent at a Jewish sleep-away camp. My experience differed from past summer Jewish experiences and even more so from my prior visits to Israel. As I interacted with the country, I gradually came to realize how the dream of Israel I'd been taught to love has drastically changed since October 7th, 2023. To me, these film streaks signify both the streaks of missiles which have become the new norm in Israel, as well as the energy and allure of Israel being sapped up and away. The compositions alone are beautiful and timeless, shot in film, but the streaks and blurs bring out a desolate and lonely quality. As much as I miss the Israel I grew up visiting every year, I've accepted that the country and culture will never be the same. Maybe this is for the best, and through pain and devastation, long lasting peace will be achieved. I pray that when the dust settles, everything I loved about Israel is still there, even if it may show its colors in a new way and feel different than ever before.