Sergey Kadinsky

These photos were created in the Summer of 2006, as a Media Fellow at the Jerusalem office of The Israel Project

Here's where the town ends and the military base begins. Near the border is a public pool.

As the sun sets on Shavei Shomron, I take a stand of support. Notice that I forgot to get a haircut prior to the 17th of Tammuz. Now I have to wait 3 weeks.

my host in her backyard. On the right is their homage to Grant Wood. Call it "Samarian Gothic."

Every community in Yesha makes its own brand of wine. My hosts also grow their grapes.

As a result of the uncertainty brought by the 2005 Disengagement, some houses in Shavei Shomron stand empty, awaiting a loving family.

Children's wall murals bring to mind songs of happiness that once permeated these dwellings.

Only a stray cat greets me in this corridor. Taking the picture at early morning twilight, its eyes glow to the camera.

Behind the pine tree in this window is a view of Shekhem. I wonder what the residents of Shekhem think when they look at this abandoned concrete trailer. Do they recognize the painful sacrifices Israel has made in the name of peace? Was the 2005 disengagement worth it?

A washing machine stands alone, while in the next room a ritual washing cup also serves as a reminder that there was once life in these homes. Above, orange graffiti tells the message of an emotional struggle against the expulsion. On the left is a mezuzah cover torn apart.

"Peace is dead" declares the bat-wing shaped tag. In spite of the expulsion, the graffiti remains patriotic to Israel.

August 21, 2005. This is the date when the four northern Samarian communities were destroyed. They were the last of the 21 communities destroyed that year.

A children's book lies abandoned. This is evidence that Russian Jews also lived in Homesh.

Jews don't expel Jews, the graffiti says. It is sad that we have reached a time when our own people are doing something that our enemies tried unsuccessfully for 58 years- expel us from our homes.

Here is my last view of Homesh. None of the books, dishes, or furniture in the pictures were disturbed. I did not come to Homesh to collect souvenirs. I came to mourn, and document its remains to the world. Anyone is welcome to visit this ghost town that was once a living community. Let the world know- Never Again!

As our bus quickly sped through the center of the Arab village of Funduq, I snapped pictures.

To avoid confrontation, Israel will likely build a bypass road around Funduq and build a fence or wall around the village to prevent terrorist infiltration.

Outside Funduq, Arab hitchhikers await their rides to work. We avoid them. They have their own bus and taxi services.

Until we meet again. I shall finish my Samarian photo album with this dramatic mountain pass on Route 60

Samarian Landscapes

A big thank you to the Aster Family of Shavei Shomron. Here are a few photos that they sent me in early November of 2006

Mrs. Aster poses by a poster that she designed to condemn lashon hara, or gossiping. On the right, Mr. Aster welcomes guests to his community.

On the left, the color of the flowers appears to reflect on the sunset. On the right, native flora.

Once again, the author poses with some of her artworks. The world should know about this community, there is so much life in it. May it continue to thrive.

Artist Dates:	Summer 2006
Title:	Shavei Shomron- The Samarian Region
Location:	Shavei Shomron, Israel