As the official photographer for the Israeli Embassy in LA for 24 years, Peter Halmagyi has photographed the last seven Israeli prime ministers, starting with Yitzhak Shamir. Throughout his time at the embassy, Halmagyi has photographed the who’s who among Israel’s politicians and celebrities.  This spring, after more than seventy trips to Israel, and logging thousands of kilometers from Rosh Hanikra to Eilat, Halmagyi decided it was time to call Israel ‘home’ and made Aliyah to Herzliya.

Born in Hungary, Halmagyi grew up unaware of his Jewish heritage only discovering it as an adult. Having achieved a photography degree in Budapest, Halmagyi immigrated to the United States as a young man in the early 1990s.  His job at the embassy provided him with incredible experience, access to some very important people, and created a deep love for Israel.

“It was very emotional working for the Israeli government as a photographer for those twenty-four years,” recalls Halmagyi in his charming Hungarian accent. “I traveled to Israel seventy times in that position. I covered Shimon Peres’ life, the past seven prime ministers, all of the politicians who came to visit us; I covered them all. I met all of them.” When pressed, Halmagyi admits that Israeli President Shimon Peres and former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau were among his favorites.

Having lived the first half of his life in Hungary, and then in Los Angeles, Halmagyi plans to spend the remaining years of his life in Israel.. “It was a big mistake that I did not make Aliyah ten years ago,” laments Halmagyi. “When you are married to your work, as I am, it is difficult. I was always traveling, covering an event of one sort or another.”
Peter’s work has led him to have traveled to 148 countries, where he  covered every type of event imaginable, from coronations and celebrations to tragedies. He has been invited by kings, presidents, celebrities and governments to photograph their most important events.

In the two months since making Aliyah, Halmagyi has been taking in Israel with almost childlike wonderment. “Israel is so technologically advanced; it amazes me. Every little thing… Look at the road system. Think about it: All of the roads, everything was made from scratch in just 65 years. It looks like America but with Hebrew signs. Yet America took 237 years to get to where it is today.”
Though Halmagyi doesn’t speak Hebrew, he seems undaunted by that potential barrier. “No, I don’t speak the language, but I don’t see that as a problem. Israel is very advanced in its education. The people are educated; they speak English, so many have diplomas. In fact, in all of the countries I’ve traveled to in my life, I’ve never seen a country where so many are educated, and speak English. Money can be made and lost, but education is with you forever – the Israeli people are the most educated I’ve seen.”

“People asked me, ‘Why are you going there? You have no family there, you don’t speak the language, you have to start from zero.’ But this is a great country and there are wonderful people. I love the people. Israelis are tough people and Israelis have a right to be tough. Every family has a tragedy, has been through wars, the Holocaust.”

In terms of security, Halmagyi is completely undaunted by those who have concerns about the safety of living in Israel. “Israel is one of the safest places in the world. I still don’t believe that I’m here. It feels almost like looking at a movie about myself. Israel is now my home address! Sometimes I can’t believe it. One of the differences between Israel and other countries is you really have the feeling that Israel is for YOU while elsewhere you are for the country. In Israel I feel totally secure. I lived in Brazil for two years and there is no comparison. It does not even cross my mind to be afraid here in Israel. As for the healthcare system, it’s nearly free. People complain about the taxes being so high but here you get a return; security, health, everything is covered.”

As for his professional plans in Israel, Peter has hardly been under the radar since his arrival. A mere few weeks after his Aliyah, Halmagyi was the official photographer ‘airport to airport’ for Barbra Streisand’s recent vaunted  trip to Israel and has completed a portrait of the new Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, David Lau mere days after his election.. If he keeps going along this path, it looks like Israel is going to have some pretty exceptional photographs to add to its archives.

Written by Laura Ben-David