NAPLES – Return to Sderot: an art exhibition for solidarity
In addition to devastating many kibbutzes and moshaves, on October 7 Hamas terrorists also rampaged through Sderot, killing 50 civilians and 20 police officers in the streets. This border city, already enduring years of incessant missile attacks from Gaza and suffering from the highest rates of post-traumatic stress in the country, is now slowly struggling to repopulate and return to normal life. However, the “reconstruction,” both physical and emotional, is just beginning. The “Return to Sderot” project, organized by the Italian Jewish Women’s Association (ADEI WIZO), seeks to support this process by following three guiding principles: “sharing, teaching, and joy,” with a focus on strengthening the activities of the local Children’s Assistance Center.
On September, 24, “Return to Sderot” arrived in Naples, hosted by the local Jewish Community, with a charity art exhibition curated by Luigi Viola and Luciano Tagliacozzo from the organization NES – We Socialist Jews. The exhibition featured a variety of works by Italian artists, accompanied by poetry readings and a concert. “The exhibition provides an opportunity to showcase the artworks. The auction will continue for a month for any unsold pieces,” explained Miriam Rebhun, president of the ADEI Naples section expressing her gratitude to the artists “for contributing their high-quality works in support of a worthy cause.”
Project Objectives
The project aims to raise funds to support WIZO teachers “in resuming their mission under such challenging circumstances.” For children and families, specialized psychological support services for post-traumatic stress are crucial, Rebhun emphasized. Additionally, she noted, “we need to fill the educational gaps caused by months of displacement with emotionally engaging activities and targeted teaching materials.” Daniele Coppin, a representative of the Jewish Community Council, added that “the revival of Sderot, like other Israeli towns devastated by terrorism, symbolizes the unity and resilience of the Jewish people.” “The project to return to Sderot, a border town both exposed and fiercely determined to live, reflects key themes of Jewish history, evoking Resistance, Reconstruction, and the Jewish Socialism of the Founding Fathers,” concluded Valentina Sereni and Delfina Piu of NES.
The exhibition catalog can be downloaded here.
Image: Nicole Blau – Rosh haShanah, mixed media and gold leaf on cotton paper, 44.5 x 31.5 cm, 2024
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