Aqabawi Band

Playing traditional Aqabawi Arabic music at an outdoor amphitheater in Aqaba city center. March 2009

Wadi Araba

Wadi Araba, Jordan March 2009

This Friday at the Mosque...

Two young girls sit outside a mosque during the midday Friday prayer.

Eid al-Adha in Alexandria, Egypt

Above: Eid al-Adha street festivities for children in Alexandria, Egypt (November 2008)

Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holiday that commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God. Satisfied with Ibrahim's devotion, God put a ram in place of Ishmael at the last moment and Ishmael was saved.

To celebrate Eid al-Adha many Muslims sacrifice a goat, lamb, cow, etc. as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice, and then distribute sacrificed meat to the poor.

Purim in Tel Aviv

Purim is the Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people of ancient Persia from Emperor Haman's plot to annihilate them. However, among the young and secular in Tel Aviv, it has become a costume party in the streets which runs until past dawn.










Above: Purim in Tel Aviv (March 2009)

Judaism In Jerusalem

Women pray in front of the female section at the Western Wall, with Jewish prayer books in the foreground

Orthodox Jewish men on a street in West Jerusalem

Young Orthodox Jews wait to cross the street

Men pray, sing, and embrace at the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism

Above: Jerusalem, March 2009

The West Bank -- Life Under Occupation

Above: A young boy sells gum at Qalandia checkpoint in Ramallah.

Qalandia is monitored by Israeli soldiers and restricts Palestinians from leaving Ramallah.


Above: A young woman walks through the high-security Qalandia checkpoint.

Palestinians with permits granted by the Israeli military authority are allowed to enter Israel. Permits --usually for work, medical or religious reasons--are only administered to a select few.


Above: Ramallah at sunset