Captured on a windswept hillside in northern Israel, “Shema” freezes a moment of devotion that speaks to the heart of Jewish faith and resilience. The image shows IDF soldiers wrapped in tallitot and tefillin, pausing from patrol to say the Shema with full presence. Against the open fields and broad sky, their prayer becomes intimate and immense, anchored in the same land they are sworn to protect.

This photograph is part of Oren Cohen’s ongoing work documenting life in Israel with honesty, warmth, and a deep respect for the people who shape its everyday story. A longtime photojournalist and visual storyteller, Cohen has spent years following soldiers, farmers, families, and communities across the country. His eye favors truth over spectacle – and depicts moments that are unguarded, human, and filled with reverence. In Shema, he brings that sensibility forward with striking clarity: the gentle touch of a hand to the face, the lines of tefillin, the tallit catching the light, and the soldiers’ enduring presence in the field.

Each print is produced with exceptional color accuracy and mounted in a thick white mat that’s ready for framing. The matte’s clean edges give the image space to breathe, drawing the viewer’s attention to the emotion on the soldier’s face and the sweeping landscape behind him. Signed by the artist, this piece stands as a work of art and a tribute to a moment of faith lived in real time.

Whether displayed in a home, office, or classroom, “Shema” offers a window into the lived spirit of Israel, where prayer and purpose meet in the open air.

Specifications:

• Photograph size: (visible image): approx. 28 × 42 cm / 11 × 16.5 in
• Mat size: (outer dimensions): approx. 40 × 50 cm / 15.75 × 19.75 in
• Finish: Matte surface with natural color
• Orientation: Landscape
• Ready to frame: Fits standard 40 × 50 cm / 15.75 × 19.75 in frames