Passage to israel

Passage to Israel is a stunning journey through time, place, religion, and culture, a captivating composition of the natural and man-made in one of the most seductive countries on earth. Curated by Karen Lehrman Bloch, the book exhibits more than 200 breathtaking images of Israel—landscapes, seascapes, architecture, interiors, and holy sites—by 34 photographers. With a Foreword by Chloé Simone Valdary, Passage to Israel shows how the small strip of land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea is a unique bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe, a profusion of cultures, customs, and traditions. Inspired by a profound connection to the land, the people of Israel—Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Bedouin, Druze, and Bahá’í—transformed a desert land of ancient ruins into a gorgeous montage of cobblestone streets and wineries, sculpture gardens and Bauhaus architecture, innovative interiors and verdant olive plantations.

“Passage to Israel captures the beauty, breadth, and timeless power of Israel better than any book I know. Karen Lehrman Bloch reminds us why this singular land has stirred such passion for thousands of years.”  Bruce Feiler, New York Times bestselling author 

 “In Passage to Israel you will experience Israel's gorgeous natural beauty and its stunning architecture, both ancient and modern.”     William Meyers, photography critic for The Wall Street Journal

 “In Passage to Israel, Karen Lehrman Bloch has captured the many sides of this incredible land and people. The photography here gives you a heightened glimpse into the depth and diversity of a land that speaks to the modern and the mystical.” Matisyahu 

"Passage to Israel is an ethereal, upliftingly soulful work of art.... Each picture in Passage to Israel is a delight and a surprise.” Lori Lowenthal Marcus, The Jewish Press

Karen Lehrman Bloch is a cultural critic, a curator, and the author of The Inspired Home: Interiors of Deep Beauty (Introduction by Donna Karan; Harper Design, 2013), La Formentera: The Woodland Refuge of Juan Montoya (Monacelli, 2012), and The Lipstick Proviso: Women, Sex & Power in the Real World (Doubleday, 1995). Her essays and commentary have been featured in media such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The New Republic, Tablet, Slate, and Metropolis.

Chloé Simone Valdary, a former Tikvah Fellow at The Wall Street Journal, is the Director of Partnerships and Outreach at Jerusalem U. In 2016 she completed a fellowship under the auspices of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Bret Stephens at The Wall Street Journal. In 2013, she was named as one of the top 100 people positively affecting Jewish life in the Algemeiner. Her work as a Zionist thinker and human rights activist has been featured on Huffington Post Live, Israel Hayom, The Jerusalem Post, and The Daily Beast, among others.