The events of October 7 shook the world to its core, leaving people everywhere with the sense that they could not remain silent — that they had to act. Out of this deep need to bear witness, photographer Erez Kaganovitz created a powerful exhibition that the Federation is bring to our community for a full year, traveling between our organizations as a living testimony and reminder.
The exhibition will open on October 5, marking two years since October 7, and will move from one organization to another throughout the year.
In Erez’s words:
Since the horrendous and devastating attack on Israel my world, like many others in Israel and around the world stopped. It seems like not only Israel won't be the same after this brutal attack but also the whole Jewish world.
Since the October 7th horrific attack, the incitement on the streets and social media fueled antisemitism and misconceptions about Israel and the Jewish people at large.
As an artist and a photojournalist, I feel it's imperative to fight back against these misconceptions and rising antisemitism by showing the human side of Israel. From my experience, highlighting the human elements of Israel can provide a reminder of what Israeli society is all about and what we are fighting for.
To do so I've created the Humans of October 7th exhibition.
In the last two years, the horrific October 7th attack, combined with the northern front along the Lebanese border, has left a deep and lasting impact on Israeli society.
In the last two years, hundreds of thousands of Israelis were displaced, scattered across the country. Millions endured constant alarms, rocket attacks, and drone threats, all of which put their lives in great jeopardy. The trauma, anxiety, and loss of life Israelis have experienced over the past two years have taken a heavy toll.
Yet, in the face of this devastation, the resilience, strength, and hope of the Israeli people shine through. Despite the hardship, they are choosing life and have begun the long process of rebuilding Israel.
As an artist and photojournalist,
I feel a deep responsibility to honor the stories of hope, resilience, bravery, and heroism shown by countless Israelis who stood up against terror on and after October 7th. In my experience, highlighting these human stories offers a powerful and moving reflection of what Israeli society truly represents. This was one of the core motivations behind the creation of the Humans of October 7th project and exhibition.”
Ask your synagogue to let you know when the exhibition arrives.
To request the exhibition for your organization, feel free to reach out to me by email, ziv@jewishnashville.org.
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