Friday April 25, 2008, Jerusalem, Israel

Orthodox Christian pilgrims crowd around the Anointing Stone in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, during the Holy Friday procession in Jerusalem's Old City. Orthodox Christians are marking the solemn period of Easter.

Orthodox Christians crowd around the Anointing Stone.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Sunday December 5, 2010, New York, New York, USA

Roosavelt Island Tram reopens

The tram connecting Manhattan and Roosevelt Island resumed service on November 30 after a $25 million makeover with the French company POMA. The sparkling new two-cabin tram offers a three-minute crossing over the East River. The historic tram had been a staple of the Manhattan skyline for 34 years. Service halted on March 1 for the upgrade. The new fully automatic trams glide at 17 mph along a double-hanger suspension provides more stability on windy days. The shiny red cars also have automatic doors and multiple interior TV screens displaying weather and news, as well as large wrap-around windows so riders can enjoy the views of the city.

Passengers enjoying the view during a tram ride connecting Manhattan and Roosevelt Island.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Thursday July 16, 2009, Umm El-Fahem, Israel

Eighteen

Aseel Ahmad Shauki Mahajne (Muslim) in her bedroom, July 16, 2009. Aseel is happy being part of a religious family with only sisters since a brother might have imposed increased restrictions. She currently works in a local grocery shop and studies in the Jewish city of Ramat Gan. Her dream is to earn a profession that will allow her to help the community in her city.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Monday October 1, 2007, Jordan River, Israel

Brazilian religious pilgrims hold mass baptism in Israel

A group of Evangelical Christian pilgrims take part in a mass baptism ceremony in the Jordan River, near the Sea of Galilee. Some 600 worshippers from Brazil took part in the event.

Evangelical Christians take part in a baptism ceremony.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Sunday September 7, 2008, New York, USA

Fifth Avenue

A woman walking past a window display of Christian Dior store on 5th Avenue in New York, Sep 07, 2008. America is facing a major economical crisis as the stock market leading indexes fall more than 15% during the past week.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Monday October 13, 2008, New York, New York, USA

Columbus Day Parade

Italian Americans march in the Columbus Day parade on Fifth Avenue to celebrate their heritage.

A band marching in the Columbus Day parade

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Saturday September 20, 2008, Rionegro, Colombia

Years of conflict in Columbia leads to world's highest number of IDPs

Millions of Columbians displaced by years of armed conflict among guerrilla, paramilitary groups, and the army are living in conditions of severe poverty and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Over 10% of the country's population is displaced, making it the number one country in the world in terms of internally displaced people. According to a recent report, the situation has been most critical in the region of Antioquia where there was a 105% increase of displaced people during the past 6 months, most of which have fled to Medellin.

Children of Restepo family in their house in El Hueco (the pit) neighborhood in Rionegro

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Friday May 23, 2008, Mount Meiron, Israel

Belief

Ultra-Orthodox Jews during morning prayer at the site of the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai on Mount Meiron, May 23, 2008. Hundreds of thousands of orthodox Jews gathered at the site of the tomb to celebrate the festivity of Lag Ba’Omer by lighting big fires during the nights and participating in a mass prayer at dawn.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Tuesday November 30, 2010, New York, New York, USA

Frederic Malle

French parfumer Frederic Malle in his shop on Madison Avenue in New York.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Thursday September 18, 2008, Medellin, Colombia

Years of conflict in Columbia leads to world's highest number of IDPs

Millions of Columbians displaced by years of armed conflict among guerrilla, paramilitary groups, and the army are living in conditions of severe poverty and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Over 10% of the country's population is displaced, making it the number one country in the world in terms of internally displaced people. According to a recent report, the situation has been most critical in the region of Antioquia where there was a 105% increase of displaced people during the past 6 months, most of which have fled to Medellin.

Julia Moreno Cordova (34) breast feeds her 8 months old baby in her home in the Nuevo Amaneser neighborhood in Medellin. Julia's family (5 people) fled from Mungito in the region of Choco.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Monday July 30, 2007, Ktziot Prison, Israel

Shelter - Israel

A Sudanese refugee and her daughter in their room at the women and children's quarters of the refugee camp at Ktziot Prison. The Israeli government built a refugee camp within the prison next to the Israeli-Egyptian border with a capacity of over 3,000. By the end of 2007, the camp capacity was reached, forcing the authorities to release some of the refugees to various alternative custody solutions around Israel.

A Sudanese refugee woman caresses her daughter's head.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Saturday April 7, 2007, Jerusalem, Israel

Holy Fire Ceremony in Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Thousands of Christian pilgrims and worshippers gathered in Jerusalem's Old City, at the Holy Sepulchre Church, the site where Christians believe Jesus was buried after his crucifixion, to mark the Easter "Holy Fire" ceremony Saturday afternoon. At about 2.00 pm (1100 GMT) the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and an Armenian priest entered the tomb area and exited with a burning torch, whose fire then lit candles held by congregants outside the tomb. The worshippers, who believe the fire descends from heaven, then continue to pass the "holy fire" to others.-

Christian worshippers light candles at the Church of Holy Sepulchre during a Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem's Old City.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Wednesday March 7, 2007, Tel Aviv, Israel

The Tel Avivians

Reuven Yehezkel, 51, a welder in his workshop on 15 Salame Street in south Tel Aviv. The southern part of the city is scattered with numerous small businesses and charming workshops. Reuven inherited the workshop from his father and has worked there for the past 30 years. "I will always stay here. This place is part of who I am. I am sorry my sons have decided to follow different roads, leaving me to work alone," he says.

Reuven Yehezkel, a welder, at work in his shop.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Saturday September 20, 2008, Medellin, Colombia

Broken Lives, the displaced population of Colombia

Millions of people displaced by years of armed conflict among guerrilla, paramilitary groups and the army in Colombia are living in conditions of severe poverty and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance just to cover their basic needs. According to official government figures, Colombia has 2,6 million displaced. Some NGOs calculate the real number of displaced to be around 4 million, over 10% of the country's population, making it the number one country in the world in terms of internally displaced people.

Emiro Moreno Romero (17) watching the river next to Moravia neighborhood in Medellin. Some of the displaced population works next to the river in recycling, making little money in order to survive. Millions of people displaced by years of armed conflict among guerrilla, paramilitary groups and the army in Colombia are living in conditions of severe poverty and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance just to cover their basic needs. Finding work is extremely difficult, and people often have to deal with exploitation and corruption.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Tuesday July 13, 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv Restaurants

People dinning at Jajo Wine Bar in Neve Tzedek neighborhood in Tel Aviv, July 13, 2010.

People dinning at Jajo Wine Bar

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Tuesday August 17, 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel

Conflict surrounds the legacy of Kafka

German speaking Czech writer Franz Kafka was born in 1883 in Prague. After suffering from tuberculosis, Kafka left his unfinished manuscripts, notes and drawings (with instructions for them to be burned unread) to his friend and literary agent Max Broad. Disregarding Kafka's instructions, Broad had three of the stories published, leading to Kafka's fame as one of the most original and acclaimed modern writers. Broad later escaped before the Nazi's hold on Prague, traveling to Palestine with a suitcase of Kafka's works. Before his death he left all of Kafka's work to Esther Hoffe, his secretary and suspected lover. Much to the dismay of Israel, Hoffe sold an original manuscript to the German Literature Archive in Marbach and upon her death, left the remainder of the works to her two daughters. With Broad's original will stating that his literary estate be placed with the library of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ), The Municipal Library in Tel Aviv or another public archive in Israel or abroad, the National Library of Israel, formally the HUJ, is engulfed in a legal battle with the Hoffe sisters and the German Literature Archive, formerly engaged in talks to purchase more works before Hoffe's death.

76-year-old Eva Hoffe in a garden near her home

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Monday July 30, 2007, Ktziot Prison, Israel

Sudanese Refugees in Israel

A Sudanese refugee and her daughter in their room in the women and children quarters of the refugee camp in Ktziot Prison near the Israeli-Egyptian Border, July 30, 2007. Israel is building a government refugee camp inside and outside the prison with a planned capacity of 1200 people. Israel said on Aug 19th it would turn away refugees from the war torn Darfur region of Sudan in an effort to stop the flow of Africans across Israel's southern border with Egypt. Advocates for the refugees in Israel condemned the decision, saying the Jewish people should be expected to show empathy for people fleeing persecution.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Sunday July 23, 2006, North Israel, Israel

Israeli Defense Forces enter Southern Lebanon

An Israeli soldiers prayes before entering Lebanon near the village of Avivim, at the Israel-Lebanon border, July 23, 2006. Israeli forces are carrying out limited incursions a few kilometres inside southern Lebanon, mainly around the Lebannese village of Marun Al-Ram.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Thursday January 17, 2008, Tel Aviv, Israel

The Tel Avivians

Johnny, 42 and Gaby, 47, repairing fishing nets in the old Jaffa port in Tel Aviv. Many fishermen still use the old port as docking stations for their small fishing boats. As most of the fishing is done at night, the nets are fixed during daytime. "There is no place like Jaffa," says Johnny. "It the best place in the whole world. We need to finish fixing this net in a couple of hours before going out to sea tonight."

L-R: Johnny and Gaby, at work repairing fishing nets at the old Jaffa port.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Thursday July 2, 2009, Arrabe, Israel

Eighteen

Jehad Nassar (18) holding a chick in the backyard of his cousin's house in Arrabe, July 02, 2009. Many households in Arab villages own chickens andor horses, though young people often chose to pursue non-agricultural professions.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Sunday August 21, 2005, Katif, Israel

Evacuation of Gush Katif settlement

An Israeli settler is carried out by soldiers from the synagogue of the Gaza's settlement of Katif, 21 August 2005 during the evacuation of the place as part of the Israeli uproot of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Wednesday April 13, 2005, Bilin, West Bank, Palestinian Territories

Clashes in Bilin over Jewish settlement security barrier

Israel sought to play down differences with the United States on Tuesday after President George W. Bush told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon the Jewish state must not expand settlements in the occupied West Bank. Several demonstrators were detained and no injuries were reported during the clashes.

Palestinians hurling stones with a slingshot at Israeli border policemen during a protest that turned into clashes at the construction site of Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bil'in, near Ramallah.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Friday April 25, 2008, Jerusalem, Israel

Orthodox Christian procession of crosses

Orthodox Christian pilgrims carry crosses to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, during the Holy Friday procession in Jerusalem's Old City. Orthodox Christians are marking the solemn period of Easter.

An Israeli Border police officer stands guard near an Orthodox Christian carrying a cross

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Thursday July 15, 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv Restaurants

A view of Raphael restaurant next to the sea shore in Tel Aviv. Raphael is one of the most prestigious restaurants in Tel Aviv and is owned by its Chef Rafi Cohen.

Empty set tables in a restaurant

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Thursday November 27, 2008, New York, New York, USA

Macy's Thanksgiving day parade

82nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Ronald McDonald balloon makes its way down during The Macy's Thanksgiving day parade

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Friday December 26, 2008, Quibdo, Colombia

Broken Lives, the displaced population of Colombia

Millions of people displaced by years of armed conflict among guerrilla, paramilitary groups and the army in Colombia are living in conditions of severe poverty and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance just to cover their basic needs. According to official government figures, Colombia has 2,6 million displaced. Some NGOs calculate the real number of displaced to be around 4 million, over 10% of the country's population, making it the number one country in the world in terms of internally displaced people.

Left to right: Henry Domico Cunapa (23), Katrin Domico Palacios (3), Soraida Palcios Ortega (20), Bianca Cunapa (26) and Jotmar Cunapa (4) in their house in Choco. The two families (Henry and Bianca are brothers) fled from Rio Sucio fearing the armed conflict between the paramilitary groups and are now living in a suburb of Quibdo.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Sunday June 28, 2009, Tel Aviv, Israel

Dana Ivgy

Dana Ivgy, Israeli actress born in 1982, plays the central role of a young Jewish woman who falls for an Arab man in "Jaffa," a drama directed by Keren Yedaya set in the Israeli seaside town of the title.

Israeli actress Dana Ivgy next to Hotel Cinema on Dizengof Square in central Tel Aviv.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Thursday November 25, 2010, New York, New York, USA

Thanksgiving day parade

Participants taking part in the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade in New York.

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Tuesday July 13, 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv Restaurants

People dinning at Jajo Wine Bar in Neve Tzedek neighborhood in Tel Aviv, July 13, 2010.

People dinning at Jajo Wine Bar

Credit: Natan Dvir / Polaris

Natan Dvir