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Following October 7th – Artists from Israel Create on the Theme of Home

The renowned Israeli poet Avot Yeshurun wrote, “Memories are a home.” Franz Kafka added, “You do not need to leave your house. Sit at your desk and listen—the world will offer itself to you.” According to Winston Churchill, “First we shape our homes, and thereafter, our homes shape us.” Emily Dickinson stated that “Wherever you are—that is home,” and Confucius said, “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”

Across cultures, and particularly in Jewish-Israeli tradition, the home stands as the ultimate protective space for its residents. It is the place where family grows and traditions are nurtured, preserving their unique character. The defense of the home is considered a supreme value, and countless artworks have been inspired by it.

The war of October 7th is regarded as a traumatic historical event in the annals of the Israeli nation—a wound unparalleled since the establishment of the state. Beyond the devastating loss of life, the attacks on hundreds of homes in the southern border communities and the damage to homes in the northern border areas caused immense trauma and shook the concept and essence of “home.”

Israeli poet Shlomit Cohen-Asif compares the home to the human body: “People are not transparent; within a house called a body, they reside. The face is a sign, the tongue—a key, the mouth—a door, the nostrils—chimneys, the eyes—windows, and the smile on the face is a decorative picture. And it is hard to know what happens inside if one does not share about the house they live in.”

This intimate interpretation of the home as akin to the human body reflects a connection between the soul and the physical structure in which it resides. Yehuda Amichai writes, “A person leaves their home, but the home does not leave the person,” suggesting that the essence of an individual, their behavior, and their life are intrinsically linked to the home from which they emerged and which they established to continue their family lineage.

A new exhibition, initiated by Ben Ami Gallery in Tel Aviv to celebrate Israel’s 77th Independence Day, showcases numerous creative interpretations of the concept of home.

The exhibition features renowned veteran artists alongside emerging young creators from all over Israel. It includes artists from the Gaza border area and the northern border—regions directly impacted by the war. The exhibition represents the artists’ longing, along with that of the Israeli people, for this to be the final war, leading to tranquility and peace in the region.

Curator: Doron Polak