Shemuel Hazon’s sweater placed on a rack in the center of his empty apartment. At the age of 86, Shmuel, who lost his son in a terror attack during his military service, exited the window visible at the far right of the picture and jumped to his death from the seventh floor. Petah Tikva, Israel.
Mordechai Zilberman, dressed in the jacket of his deceased partner and Holocaust survivor Aryeh, sits for a portrait. Jerusalem, Israel. Mordechai and Aryeh, a same-sex couple for sixty years, navigated life's complexities together, deeply affected by Aryeh's traumatic Holocaust memories. In his later years, Aryeh struggled with dementia, blurring lines between past and present, fear and reality. Their life, punctuated by hospital visits, grew increasingly fraught with anxiety. On Aryeh's eighty-eighth birthday, returning from the hospital, his health deteriorated once more. Facing the heartbreaking decision that his partner had "suffered enough," Mordechai refrained from seeking help. Mordechai told Aryeh that he "could rest," and on that night, Aryeh passed away at their shared home. Mordechai often wears Aryeh's clothes to feel closer to him.
An organized setting of the covered car of Moshe Etzion, who took his own life at the age of 88. Kfar Monash, Israel. The photographer covered the car to symbolize Jewish shrouds, the traditional burial cloth in which a body is wrapped before burial.
Passionate about driving, Moshe cherished the freedom it offered. After his son was killed by a rocket in the 2014 Israel-Gaza War, he found solace in volunteering with the 'On the Way to Recovery' NGO, driving Palestinian patients to medical treatment in Israel. However, following surgery, doctors advised him against driving. To avoid "burdening" his family, as he noted in his suicide note, Moshe took his own life at his son's grave.
Smadar Halperin sits for a portrait in the beloved car of her father, Moshe Etzion. Moshe, who lost his son in the 2014 Israel-Gaza War, shot himself at his son's grave at the age of 88. Kfar Monash, Israel.
Three sisters, Almog Paz (standing), Sapir Paz (floating), and Inbar Paz (submerged), pose for a portrait in the waters of their cherished beach, where their mother, Sara (Sari) Paz, used to bring them time and time again during their childhood. Sara took her own life at the age of 59 in the bathtub, a day after visiting this beach. Caesarea, Israel.
Sara, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, faced a challenging and complex upbringing overshadowed by her mother's struggle with depression. Despite the earnest efforts of her daughters to provide support, their attempts were ultimately unsuccessful, and Sara took her own life. Stigma often leads survivors of suicide to conceal their family history, further deepening feelings of loneliness and alienation. As Sapir, Sara's daughter, shared, "We need to talk about it. Get rid of the shame."
Sara (Sari) Paz's dress placed on her sofa. Sara took her own life at the age of 59. Pardes Hanna, Israel.
The gun of Moshe Etzion, who took his own life at the age of 88 with this gun. It was owed by his son, who got killed in Israel-Gaza War in 2014. Ofakim, Israel.
Yael Ben Ari stands for a portrait in her family's abandoned estate, a place once filled with joy and cherished memories but also marked by the unraveling of her family. Here, her mother, Zipora Ben Ari, took her own life at the age of 63. In this photograph, Yael is wearing her mother's necklace and scarf. Kfar Neter, Israel.

Zipporah was known for her vibrant and active personality. However, her mental health began to deteriorate following the tragic death of her nephew in a military service accident. Yael, her daughter, reflects on the silence surrounding their family's suffering: "No one dares to ask, and I really wish they would. I want to tell the truth, to talk about the fear."
Sara (Sari) Paz’s shoes placed in her home. Sara took her own life at the age of 59. Pardes Hanna, Israel.
Michal and Yosef Shatsky, both 88, pose in their home at Kibbutz Magen, Israel. Inspired by her parents' joint suicide, Michal wishes to end her life in Switzerland due to the fear of aging. Her husband, Yosef, struggles with her decision and fears being left alone. A few months after this picture was taken, their home, Kibbutz Magen was attacked during the October 7th Hamas assault.
Michal Shmueli Hazon stands for a portrait in front of the window where her 86-year-old father, Shmuel Hazon, exited and jumped to his death. March 2023, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Shmuel, bereaved by the loss of his son in a terror attack, found solace in entrepreneurship and volunteering, especially with parents who suffered a similar loss. However, the isolation brought on by COVID-19 quarantines deeply affected him, eroding his sense of purpose and connection to society. Struggling with profound grief, Shmuel took his own life
Shemuel and Rina Hazon's empty bedroom. Petah Tikva. Israel.
New tenants will soon fill this space, starting their own story.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

ELDERLY SUICIDE IN A CONFLICT-STRICKEN LAND

Across the world, the elderly endure a profound yet often unspoken crisis: high suicide rates. While being the most affected age group by suicide, they are frequently overlooked in discussions of mental health and suicide prevention. Yet, for the families and loved ones left behind, each elderly suicide leaves broken hearts and unanswered questions.

In Israel, where national and personal trauma intertwine, the elderly face a suicide rate double that of the general population. However, this topic remains a cultural taboo and a source of shame.

This project, a collaboration with family members impacted by elderly suicide, seeks to illuminate these hidden narratives. Together, we crafted images that reflect intimate moments of loss, portraying participants alongside meaningful objects in locations connected to their loved ones. This approach invites the participants to use photography to reclaim their narratives of the painful events.

Through this work, we aim to lift the veil of shame surrounding this issue and spark a necessary dialogue about our broader societal responsibilities toward the elderly, particularly in regions marked by prolonged conflict and historical trauma.