Israel Rising: The Land of Israel Reawakens (Ancient Prophecy / Modern Lens)

A unique visual story of Israel's miraculous journey from unforgiving desert land to thriving nation.

Thousands of years ago, the prophet Ezekiel foretold a future time in which the arid land of Israel would come alive for its people. Now this breathtaking book documents the fulfillment of this vision, from the hills of Shiloh where shepherds once roamed, to the booming city of Tel Aviv, founded on sand dunes, to the stellar beaches of Caesarea, transformed from a small village into one of Israel's most stunning coastal cities and finally Jerusalem, the Eternal City of Peace, where in ancient times the power of worship resounded from the Temple. Here, rarely seen photographs taken between the 1880s and the 1940s juxtaposed with contemporary images of the same locations illustrate the region's biblical history as a place of monumental battle, celebration, worship, and awesome resilience.

Whether by helicopter or on foot, on their own or with the aid of locals, author Doug Hershey and photographer Elise Monique Theriault negotiate the terrain to access the vantage points required to match the original photos, from the rooftop of Israel's National Museum of Science, Technology and Space in Haifa, to Jaffa Port's breakwater, and much more. Their quest creates a collection that will inspire and captivate as it illuminates Israel's foretold awakening in a new and unforgettable way.


To help facilitate this dramatic view of history, Israel Rising will start at the beginning. It will look at what exactly Ezekiel prophesied. It will explore the historical accounts from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim eyewitnesses of what the land and region has experience and endured. And photos from the 1880s-1940s will be compared to new photos of the same locations. With more than 175 photos, Israel Rising will depict the transformation of Israel as it celebrates its 70th anniversary.