Bringing to life the stories of Israelis killed and held captive in Gaza: StandWithUs Oct 7 Memorial
With a great need to process the horror and atrocities of the Oct. 7 surprise invasion and brutal terror attack in southern Israel one year later, memorials and various ways of telling the story are appearing in many different forms.
On Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas terrorist organization launched a massive attack on Israeli communities that border the Gaza Strip, killing 1,200 men, women and children and kidnapping more than 250 people, both living and deceased, while carrying out extreme acts of violence, including torture and rape.
In the center of Jerusalem, StandWithUs, an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism, has created a new exhibition to highlight the work of artist Ben Zion Brofman called “Faces of October 7th” at the Katz Education Center.
Benzi Brofman is an international street artist and muralist who was at the site of the Nova Music Festival just hours before the attack took place on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023. Since then, he has dedicated much of his time to memorializing all the young people who were killed, injured, or kidnapped at the hands of Hamas terrorists.
His large-scale portraits of the victims are at the heart of the exhibition, allowing visitors to connect personally with each story. The exhibit also includes interactive reflection spaces for the public to explore and better understand what happened on the infamous day Israelis now call the "Black Shabbat."
Visitors can experience the virtual reality installation 'Survived To Tell,' which combines art and technology to honor their stories and inspire hope, presenting a fuller picture of their lives.
In the wake of the worst catastrophe for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, innovative exhibitions like these bring to life the stories of the victims of the Oct. 7 massacre, making sure that we never forget.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
