Instagraming Israel

Breathtaking beauty. Sizzling energy. Spiritual bliss. Diverse population. Vibrant culture. That’s Israel.

Some of us are blessed to see it every day. Some of us get to visit less frequently. And some have never seen it at all. For those of us who are well acquainted with Israel, it’s hard for us to imagine or remember what it’s like for those seeing the country for the first time.

Imagine no longer. Here is a selection of photographs taken by some of the world’s leading Instagram photographers, who came to Israel as part of an amazing program called Once in a Lifetime: Israel, run by Israel education organization StandWithUs, in partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.

From Spain, the USA, Russia, Austria, Czech Republic, Brazil, the UK, and Italy, they came. With a collective following of nearly 4 million, nine talented individuals came to the Holy Land armed with cameras and iPhones. They snapped, tweaked and posted their photos from across the country, sharing the tour with their online audience on Instagram, the widely popular photo-sharing phone App.

Here are just some of the breathtaking results showing that no matter how many times you visit, Israel is always a Once in a Lifetime experience.

Cubby Graham (@cubbygraham)
Sea of Galilee

Marion Payr (@ladyvenom)
Rosh Hanikra

Jiri Siftar (@jeera)
Haifa

Nicolee Drake (@cucinadigiatale)
Tel Aviv

Marion Payr (@ladyvenom)
Jerusalem

Oliver Vegas (@ovunno)
Massada

Tony Majka (@tonydetroit)
Dead Sea

Ilia Mikhaelov (@russian_moscow)
Jerusalem

Carolina Peña (@misshedwig)
Negev

Paulo del Valle (@paulodelvalle)
Tiberias

Ilia Mikhaelov (@russian_moscow)
Tel Aviv

Tony Majka (@tonydetroit)
Negev

Paulo del Valle (@paulodelvalle)
Negev

Jiri Siftar (@jeera)
Jerusalem

Carolina Peña (@misshedwig)
Dead Sea