Page 18 - Hadassah Academic College - President’s Report 2021

Pride in our Alumni

Gal Ben Zeev Suleiman Maswadeh

Gal Ben Zeev graduated from From the moment Suleiman
HAC in 2006 and, several graduated from HAC with a
years later, found her unique B.A. in Politics and Communi-
professional niche as a Food cation in 2019, his career can
Photographer. Today, Gal only be described as mete-
owns a successful studio that oric. While in school, he first
employs 10 other photogra- started working as a student
Photo: Ori Taub Photo: Kan 11
phers, six of whom are HAC Israeli Public intern at Kan 11, The Israeli
graduates. For the last seven years, Gal has Broadcasting Public Broadcasting Corpora-
been teaching a ‘Food Stories Workshop’ that Corporation tion, where today he serves as
attracts small business owners, foodies, and Kan’s TV and radio Jerusalem Correspondent.
chefs. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke Born in the Moslem Quarter of the Old City of
out, and her clients were adversely affected and Jerusalem, Suleiman learned Hebrew only at
canceled work assignments, Gal kept her busi- age 20, after enrolling in HAC’s pre-academic
ness thriving by launching new product lines program, and he has made a tremendous effort
that she developed, including online courses, to master the language in which he now reports
‘SHOOTOO’ do-it-yourself photography kits, daily.
and more.
His choice of a career in an Israeli public institu-
Gal cites the many reasons that HAC’s Depart- tion has exacted a heavy price. “I’m on the re-
ment of Photographic Communication is an ceiving end of a lot of hatred,” he says. “People
extraordinary learning environment. ‘’Judith say they hope I will take a bullet or be fired.’’
Guetta, the Department Chair, has introduced During the pandemic, when he published a
a fresh mindset – and is always one step ahead story of how worshipers on the Temple Mount
of developments in the field. In addition, HAC were not adhering to health regulations, he and
lecturer Yoram Reshef’s “People of Tomorrow” his family were criticized. His family was upset
mentorship program really prepares students with him, while some Arab journalists boycot-
for the job market. HAC graduates are in an en- ted him and called him a collaborator.
tirely different league in terms of professional-
ism, I can spot them a mile away.’’ But sometimes there are advantages to remain-
ing objective and not taking sides. As Jerusa-
For the last four years, Gal has been teaching a lem Correspondent, he encounters the whole
course at HAC on culinary photography, while mosaic of the capital’s diverse population.
placing special emphasis on video skills, which “Because of my identity, everyone talks to me,
are increasingly in demand today. An avid en- secular people and also quite a few Arabs who
trepreneur, it’s not surprising that entrepre- nonetheless see me as a reason to be proud,”
neurship is a prominent subject of discussion he says. During the past year, when Suleiman
in her classroom. ‘’It’s not enough to be a pho- covered the impact of the pandemic on both
tographer - that is a small word. You need to be Arab and Haredi communities in Jerusalem, he
an entrepreneur and bring the world your own discovered many similarities between the two.
story.’’
He jokes that ‘’he is as famous in the streets of
Mea She’arim as in East Jerusalem.’’

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