The Photographer Who Dreamed of Joining the Israeli Army
When she immigrated to Israel at the age of 22, photographer Debbie Zimelman was too old to join the army. 30 years later, she finally finds closure

Debbie Zimelman immigrated to Israel when she was 22 years old. She was already considered too old to enlist in the Israeli army. After living in Israel for 30 years, there was only one formative Israeli experience that she had missed out on: Being a soldier.
Zimelman placed a request with the IDF and received permission to photograph women who had volunteered to serve in combat units. The resulting work is compiled in her book, “Women on the Front Lines: Inside the Combat Units of the Israeli Army,” which offers a deeper look into the modern phenomenon of women in combat through interviews and magnificent photos.
- The Palestinian Kids Braving Israeli Demolition of Their Homes
- 'I've Never Been on a Plane': The Palestinian Photographer at the Gaza Border
- The Most Beautiful Soccer Fields Photos From Across the World
Blog editor: Daniel Tchetchik. From Exposure: Haaretz Photo Blog. Follow on Facebook
About the blog: Daniel Tchetchik has been working for Haaretz since 2003, taking photographs for the Gallery and Week's End supplements. He initiated and edits the Haaretz Photo Blog. His work has been exhibited in Israel's leading museums and in a number of exhibitions and fairs abroad.
Materials can be sent to danielt@haaretz.co.il Works with a 2,500 pixel width and a short text
Click the alert icon to follow topics:
In the News
ICYMI

This Bedouin City Could Decide Who Is Israel's Next Prime Minister

A Women's Rights Lawyer Felt She Didn't Belong in Israel. So She Moved to Morocco

'It Was Real Shock to Move From a Little Muslim Village, to a Big Open World'
