Israel, a Photobiography The First Fifty Years

As spectacular and moving as Bar-Am's photos are, Thomas L. Friedman's compelling essay provides an anchor in the form of an eloquent reflection on the unfolding of the first fifty years. Israel's contributions to politics and culture, to religion and commerce, have made a tremendous mark on the world, and these issues Friedman addresses with the perception of an outsider who has spent almost a quarter of his life in the area. While Bar-Am's photos show us the events that have shaped Israel's path, Friedman's essay explores the implications of Israel's first fifty years and the nation's powerful struggle between its past and its future.