Jewish Masterpiece Judaea Capta et Israel Liberata

Key Findings:

This article reflects on war photojournalism and emphasizes the importance of context in shaping how the public perceives history. It is argued that photographs can and should be successfully reclaimed and recontextualized to reflect resilience and survival in Jewish history. 

The author discusses the photograph of Shani Louk, a young girl who was murdered by Hamas militants at the Nova Music Festival on October 7. The photo, which won a prestigious photojournalism award from the Associated Press, depicts Shani Louk’s lifeless body in the back of a pickup truck surrounded by Hamas militants in Gaza. Although the Jewish world was outraged by the award, Louk’s father maintains that the photo serves as a testament to the horrors of October 7, and as a reminder to future generations. 

Another image from Jewish history during the time of the Roman capture of Jerusalem in 71 CE is referenced. The image depicts a Roman soldier standing over a Jewish woman on the back of a commemorative coin. The coin reads, “Jerusalem has been captured”. In the 1950s, post the establishment of the state, Israel reclaimed this image by issuing their own commemorative coin. The design on this coin is reminiscent of the Roman version, but this time, the woman depicted on the back is shown standing up holding a baby in her arms, a man planting a tree behind her. The coin reads, “Israel has been liberated.”