Shabbat is Israel’s principal weekly day of rest - a time when people slow down, go to the beach, meet family and friends, and share a long lunch, often including dishes prepared for or left from Friday-night dinner.

I chose to photograph along the beaches of Bat Yam, a city shaped by communities of many different origins and culinary traditions. From early in the morning, families & friends arrive with simple or elaborate picnics. I photograph these meals as temporary still lifes - arranged on folding tables, gradually transformed as they are shared. Alongside plastic plates, bottles of vodka, cigarettes and sunscreen, it all comes together as a spontaneous and deeply authentic celebration.

Through food, hands and the traces left behind, I look for personal stories within this public space. Mediterranean light reveals the colours and textures of each dish, while the beach becomes a meeting place between memory, community and everyday ritual.

This is an ongoing project.