The gentle winds of the Negev shape the rolling sand dunes, creating a landscape that feels alive and constantly changing. Photography is the art of light, and I find the way the dunes interact with light fascinating—especially at sunrise and sunset when the sun is low in the sky. The harsh contrast between light and shadow accentuates the patterns and curves of the dunes, which are slowly sculpted by the wind. As the light hits the hills at just the right angle, the dunes seem to transform into nature’s abstract paintings.
Much like the terrain of the dunes, the history of the land of Israel is ever-changing. There are periods of light—revealed goodness, joy, and celebration—and times of shadow—darkness, confusion, and the concealment of the land's true light. Gazing at the dunes, we can more easily recognize the beauty of the interplay between light and shadow, and how the shifting landscape creates a masterpiece of lines and curves. Yet, during times of shadow, it can be harder to see the beauty. Still, I believe we can apply the same perspective: if we take a step back, we can appreciate both light and shadow as integral parts of the whole. The texture of life, much like the texture of the dunes, is shaped by both light and shadow.
בְּיוֹם טוֹבָה הֱיֵה בְטוֹב וּבְיוֹם רָעָה רְאֵה גַּם אֶת־זֶה לְעֻמַּת־זֶה עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים
So in a time of good fortune enjoy the good fortune; and in a time of misfortune, reflect: The one no less than the other was God’s doing.
—Kohelet 7
Standing on the dunes, you can feel them shifting beneath your feet, the sand blowing over the edges and forming new ripples and curves. Footprints from one sunset vanish by the next sunrise, replaced by fresh patterns. Despite their constant change, the dunes grow slowly over time, their full shape taking years to form. To truly appreciate them requires an awareness of the value of every moment. Each particle of sand moving with the wind reminds me that life is never stagnant; it is always in motion. The little moments build up to create the big ones.
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
—Kohelet 3:1
Most natural wonders take millennia to form, making it impossible for us to witness the process. But the dunes are different. The movement is palpable. The sand can be felt blowing in the wind. Standing there, you are reminded: I am a part of this story.