Moshe Berenstein, a 25-year-old from Beitar Illit, always felt different from his peers at the yeshiva. While they were immersed in Torah study, he was drawn to photography. His journey with the camera began in childhood, alongside maintaining a Haredi lifestyle, and over the years, evolved into a unique and intriguing career.
Beauty of the Dead Sea
(Video: Moshe Berensteinn)
Moshe, an auto-didactic photography enthusiast, began capturing images in a personal and evocative style, gaining recognition. The start was challenging; it wasn't always clear what to photograph or how to access wild nature spots. The real challenge was balancing his love for this unique field with the societal norms he grew up with. After completing his yeshiva studies, Moshe started working in what he describes as a stable and secure job at the "Osher Ad" supermarket branch in his city.
"It was a job with stability, a steady salary, and financial security," he said, "but I always knew it wasn't me. I worked there for four years, reached the position of deputy branch manager, but something in my heart was burning all the time. I felt I wasn't fulfilling myself."
During his work, Moshe would occasionally take out his old camera and capture small moments of nature and friends. "There were moments when people around me, even agents who came to work with 'Osher Ad,' would say to me, 'What are you doing here? This isn’t your place, you should be photographing!' That's when I realized it was now or never."
At this point, Moshe made a pivotal decision—to leave his job and pursue photography full-time. He invested all his savings in purchasing professional photography equipment, including a drone and a high-quality computer. After acquiring the equipment, Moshe decided to explore one of Israel's most fascinating and wild places—the Dead Sea. "I saw a video on the internet about the Dead Sea," he recalled, "and something drew me there. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but I knew I had to get there and photograph it myself."
Moshe took a bus to Jerusalem and from there continued by public transportation to Ein Gedi, where the magic began. "When I first arrived at the Dead Sea, I felt like a magnet to this place. I started photographing, and at that moment, I just knew it was my place. Every week I returned there and discovered something new. Very quickly, I found things there that were almost unknown to anyone, like the salt pearls that were revealed due to the drop in the sea level."
The salt pearls gradually emerged as the water receded, and when this Haredi photographer, who never formally studied photography, uploaded a video of them to social networks, the footage went viral, garnering millions of views worldwide. "The videos of the salt pearls accumulated tens of millions of views on TikTok and Instagram," he recounted with satisfaction. "Suddenly, I became one of the leading nature photographers of the Dead Sea, and followers began to flow."
Despite the endless photogenic allure of the place, Moshe is concerned about the rapid drying of the Dead Sea. "There's a great sadness in the dropping sea level of the Dead Sea," he said, "this place is disappearing before our eyes, and along with it, beaches vanish, dangerous sinkholes appear, and nature changes dramatically." These processes, as mentioned, photograph impressively. "Every week, I discover something new—salt pearls, unique textures, and extraordinary natural phenomena created solely due to the receding sea level. It's as if nature is presenting us with a touching farewell, and I'm there to capture it."
Combining strict religious adherence with the magic of the lens
Berenstein maintains a religious lifestyle even as a photographer. The combination of a nature photographer wholly dedicated to his work and deep roots in the Haredi sector makes him an exceptional and intriguing figure. "I haven’t abandoned my faith," he emphasized. "I am Haredi, and it doesn't contradict my love for photography. There's a part of me that wants to break boundaries and explore the world outside the Haredi routine. Every time I go to the Dead Sea, I feel like I'm bringing my world with me."
This conflict between Haredi life and working with sophisticated photography equipment and staying in wild nature hasn't gone unnoticed by his community and close family. "In the Haredi neighborhood of Beitar Illit, it's not commonplace to see a nature photographer wandering with a drone and professional cameras," he shared. "But I find a way to integrate. There's something amazing about coming home after a hard day at the Dead Sea, taking off my hiking clothes, and putting on my Haredi garments again."
Moshe continues to return to the Dead Sea every week, even though the assignments sometimes expose him to risk. "I know the area like the back of my hand, but sometimes the dedication to photography comes with a price," he recalled an incident where he descended to photograph a sinkhole that formed along the coastline, just before losing the ground beneath his feet. "I fell with the camera in my hands and managed to stop myself with my elbow. At that moment, I realized how important it is not to underestimate this place—photographing in the wild nature of the Dead Sea is very dangerous."
Moshe photographs with a sense of responsibility. "I try to document everything I can," he said in a conversation with Ynet, "also the natural phenomena that the low sea level reveals to us. I want the world to know this beauty because I know it won't remain forever."
One of his challenging experiences is using public transportation to reach the area. For two years, he traveled by buses and taxis, sometimes reaching bus stations exhausted. "I walked long hours in extreme areas, and then I found myself standing all the way back home to Jerusalem," he said. "It was exhausting, but when I got home and opened the photos, I knew it was all worth it."
Contrary to stereotypes about the Haredi community, Moshe's family accepted him and his occupation with open arms, despite the gap between the strict Haredi lifestyle and the unconventional world he entered. "My mother is the only person who is genuinely interested and connected to my work. She sees the photos and videos, understands, and asks questions. Recently, I took her to the Dead Sea, and she saw for herself everything I document all the time. She was so excited, and it was one of the most special moments for me."
Beyond the support of the secular public in Israel and nature enthusiasts worldwide, Moshe also received support from other communities within the Haredi sector. When he published his photos in a Haredi magazine, he was surprised by the interest it sparked. "Not many Haredim know the wild side of the Dead Sea," he said. "For them, the Dead Sea is hotels, organized beaches, and maybe a little more, but not beyond. It is my mission to show the beauty of this place also to the Haredi public."
Especially during wartime, as a Haredi specializing in wild nature photography, Moshe has to deal with tensions surrounding religion, identity, and public perception. "I sometimes feel uncomfortable with the fact that I'm traveling and photographing while others are fighting," he said candidly. "My friends from the secular sector don't say anything negative to me, but inside, there’s a feeling that I’m choosing a different path while the country is in a different reality. It’s a feeling that never completely leaves me."
Over the years, connections he made with nature photographers and knowledgeable travelers from the secular sector helped bridge identity gaps and led to genuine friendships. "I met many people who know my work and respect it. I have friends from all sectors."
Moshe sees himself as someone on a mission to present the beauty of the Dead Sea to the broader public. "The Dead Sea is a place unlike any other in the world," he concluded, "as the sea level drops, unique natural phenomena are revealed that I feel obliged to document and introduce to people. This is not a place that will be here forever, so every moment in it is special.
To enjoy more scenery shots, check out his Instagram
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: