Israeli Art after October 7th
Ruth Adler is a multidisciplinary artist who lives and creates in both Toronto and Tel Aviv. Working in painting, textile collage and video, her vibrant practice has been exhibited internationally since the 1980s.
Adler, currently in Toronto, will take a break from creating art, and publicly reflect on Israeli art after October 7th.
“Through words and images I will overview the wide range of responses and artworks created after October 7th, reflecting the painful reality and national trauma that befell Israel,” says Ruth. “I will be looking at how Israeli artists have become central in transforming grief into art, into testimony and into calls for solidarity.”
The illustrated public presentation will take place on Saturday evening October 25 at The First Narayever Congregation, the “traditional egalitarian” synagogue in downtown Toronto near the University of Toronto.
The connection between Israeli artistic response and the war effort was put into sharp juxtaposition by the coincidence that “Hostages Square” was created in the huge plaza in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, along Shaul HaMelech (King Saul) Boulevard, and directly across the street from the IDF’s Kirya military headquarters.
Ruth Adler’s public art lecture is the first of a series of Narayever Israel Committee programs being organized this year called Lev Yisrael – The Heart of Israel.
Lev Yisrael represents an important and emerging Jewish Diaspora response to the current virulent outbreak of Judaiophobia. Judaiophobia – the phenomenon formerly known as “antisemitism” – is defined by Toronto blogger Jacob Citron (https://accordingtojacob.com/the-high-hat ) as the disproportionate irrational fear and/or hatred of Jews, Judaism, Israelis, and/or Israel. Instead of focusing on the Judaiophobia so prevalent in the world today, Lev Yisrael focuses on the true heart of the Children of Israel: the dynamic society of the modern Jewish state, the land in all its complexity, the diverse people and their remarkable accomplishments.
“There was a time when news from Israel was not as dark and foreboding as it is now,” says Ron Riesenbach, head of Narayever’s Israel Committee and originator of Lev Yisrael. “On the contrary, not so long ago we would hear exciting stories emanating out of Israel and rejoice in Israelis transforming their ancient land into the “Startup Nation”. We would be enthralled to hear about the scientific breakthroughs, the archeological discoveries, the ecosystem restorations, the entrepreneurial innovations, and more. These stories that inspire us cover the gamut of human accomplishment and make us pine to be a part of the dynamism of Israeli society.”
Much of this dynamism and vitality has carried on in Israel despite the anguish of the last few years. The country and its people have generated remarkable (albeit unheralded) world-changing innovations. However, these accomplishments have too frequently been overshadowed by the hard news of war and suffering in the region.
Riesenbach hopes the Lev Yisrael series, of which Ruth Adler’s presentation on Israeli art after October 7 is just the first installment, will present the positive side of Israel that doesn’t make daily news.
Says Riesenbach, “Lev Yisrael hopes to push aside the gloom and to instead shine a spotlight on the amazing contributions of Israel to its own society and to the world at large.”
Ruth Adler’s illustrated presentation on “Israeli Art after October 7”, accompanied by Israeli wine and cheese, will take place at First Narayever Congregation on Saturday October 25 at 7:30 pm.
