Her contributions were rich and varied; she served as the social media director at Nefesh B’Nefesh, telling the stories of thousands of olim; and as director of marketing and new media at Shavei Israel, where she spotlighted hidden and lost Jewish communities across Latin America, India, Africa and beyond. She was also the author of Moving Up: An Aliyah Journal, a personal account of her transition from Florida to Israel.
Laura’s photography captured a wide array of subjects; Old City landscapes with twinkling lights in the soft navy night, snow-capped trees rooted in Jerusalem, the rolling hills of Gush Etzion, birds in flight over the Hula Valley, seascapes and mountaintops all over Israel. She was fascinated by the flora and fauna of this beautiful land; vibrant frogs on lily pads, bright red poppies in bloom, wide open skies, branches contrasting with warm sunsets.
Her subjects came alive in her portraiture; she caught powerful images of Bnei Menashe weddings, faces of people landing in Israel on their aliyah, Kohanim in blessing at the kotel, contrasting cultures, secular and religious, side by side, soldiers in uniform, her children reflected in the lights of the Chanukah menorah, on the beaches with sun-soaked smiles.
Her extensive and award-winning work was featured in an exhibition, Beautiful Israel: The People and The Land Through the Lens of Laura Ben-David, which debuted in the last few months of her life, and now features in the cancer centre at Shaare Tzedek Hospital, bringing joy and inspiration to nurses, doctors, and patients alike. She was featured in books, journals, and showings.
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(Photo: Laura Ben David)[Missing Credit]
Laura was the engine that drove the Jewish Life Photo Bank, a stock photo site that documents Orthodox Jewish life, focusing on representation of Jewish women to counter their increasing erasure in the Orthodox world. She headed the project as part of her work with Chochmat Nashim, an Orthodox women’s NGO of which she was a founding board member. Laura visited London multiple times to document the stories of agunot – women chained to dead marriages – including the late Leah Hochhauser, who, despite her deep desire for a divorce, died an agunah. While here, Laura held photoshoots with dozens of volunteers capturing beautiful images of Orthodox women and families for the Photo Bank that has now been named in her honour.
These stunning images of Jewish life grace the pages of media outlets including the JC and are used worldwide. Keren David, managing editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said: “It’s rare to find authentic pictures of Jewish life that include women, the Photo Bank fills a real gap.” Laura was married to Lawrence Ben David in 1988, they later amicably divorced. Her six children were the light of her life, and she was always endlessly proud of who they were and their achievements. She was blessed with nine grandchildren, the latest born in June. Two years ago she married Ray Barishansky in a fairytale wedding.
Ramie Smith, activist and founder of GettOutUK, said of Laura: “With her camera, she did more than record testimony; she gave agunot a voice, including women who had never spoken before. There was something about Laura’s presence; her quiet strength, her gentleness, her grace, that made people feel safe enough to open up. I watched women I never thought would share their stories find the courage to speak, simply because it was Laura who was asking. She was a rare soul; equal parts calm and spark, endlessly creative, and up for any adventure. She lived with purpose, seized every moment, and gave so much of herself to helping Jewish women be seen and heard.” In the few days since her passing, social media feeds have been flooded with posts from people speaking about what Laura meant to them and how they will manifest her love of life in their own lives. Around the world, people are taking photos in her honour, because Laura taught us to notice the beauty in everything.
The ovarian cancer that stole her never defined her. This is a message she shared towards the end of her life: “I’m making the most of every day… None of us know how much time we have, but we do get to choose how we spend it, and who we spend it with. And I choose joy, love, and moments with the people who matter.
"Please, let’s make them count. I’ve always more or less lived by the following mantra; why stop now? It’s not about how much time we have, but how fully we live it.”
She is survived by her husband, Raphael M Barishansky, her children Shyra, Lexi, Eitan, Ezra, Kobi, and Maya; and grandchildren; along with her mother, sisters and brother.
Laura Ben-David: Born February 6, 1969. Died July 17, 2025
