Artists4Israel Genizah Event

Date & Time

November 4, 2024    
6:00 pm

Category

For more information and to register, click here. 

 

The Sacred Purpose of the 10.7 Genizah

Since October 7, 2023, Jewish and allied individuals have demonstrated their powerful emotional connection with the suffering of October 7 through multiple forms of personal and collective expression.
The Jewish people have a canonized ritual for giving closure to sacred objects. This place is called a genizah– space where remnants of Jewish life are given a final and honorable resting place. A genizah can be a space that allows paper and parchment to organically return to the earth or it can be a kind of time capsule, preserving artifacts of important eras in Jewish history that will be revisited by future generations.
Each aspect of the traditional genizah will have a function in TBALA and Artists 4 Israel’s new ritual farewell to the totems and articles that tether us to Oct. 7.

 An Open Genizah

The Genizah is open to anyone seeking to divest themselves of objects from their personal memorialization of 10.7.
TBALA has created a modern, meaningful liturgical ceremony and ritual practice for the interring of such holy items. The genizah is fully embedded in a living garden and will feature artistic elements from Artists 4 Israel.

What Goes in the Genizah

Images, names, and memories of the deceased as holy objects, directly into the ground of the genizah to return to the earth as part of an emergent ritual with roots in traditional Jewish burial practices.
Fragments of the KIDNAPPED mural to be placed respectfully within the Genizah with dignity, honor, and gratitude for the strength we drew from its powerful reminder.
  • VIDEOS

  • SONG LYRICS

  • WRITTEN PRAYERS

  • TICKETS AND RECEIPTS FROM ISRAEL

  • ANY ITEM YOU WISH TO PROVIDE AN HONORABLE RESTING PLACE

  • DOG TAGS

  • YELLOW RIBBONS

  • IDF SHIRTS

  • YARMULKES

  • KIDNAPPED POSTERS

  • CARDS

Size and Material Guidelines

*ITEMS FOR EMPLACEMENT IN THE GENIZAH*

Please bring no more than three (3) small items per household. This is a holy capsule with a precious amount of space. Each item should fit, when folded up, into a closed fist.

*ITEMS FOR EMPLACEMENT IN THE EXHIBIT COLLECTIBLE CASE*

Please bring no more than five (5) items per household. Each item must fit, when folded up, into a letter-sized envelope. We will provide paper and pens on site for those who wish to add notes of hope to this part of the exhibit.
Please be advised that the above are guidelines intended to maximize the space we are making available to the wider community to participate in this new ritual. Thank you for helping us to leave room to be as inclusive as possible.

A Time Capsule and Art Display

An accessible repository for objects that bear the names, images and memories of those still held captive as well as notes & prayer of hope. This capsule will be designed such that it can be shared with communities across the United States and Israel.
A gallery of teen artwork enhanced by professionals from the Artists 4 Israel organization featuring artistic renewal of images from the KIDNAPPED posters.

The Purpose of the November 6 Event

  • IN-GATHER AS ONE PEOPLE DEDICATED TO HONORING OUR HISTORY.

  • CELEBRATE OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE EFFORTS IN THE NAME OF PEACE, LIBERATION AND SUPPORT.

  • MOURN – ON OUR OWN TERMS – AS WE BURY THE ITEMS WE PROTECTED AND KEPT WITH US THROUGH THE PAST YEAR AND WHICH WE NOW CHOOSE TO LET GO IN A WAY THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO US AND MINDFUL OF THE COMMUNITY WE REPRESENT.

  • CREATE NEW OBSERVANCES AND RITUALS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A UNIQUE MOMENT IN OUR PEOPLE’S LIVES.

  • FREE OURSELVES FROM THE DISTRESSING TOTEMS OF OUR PREVIOUS RESPONSE TO TRAGEDY SO WE MIGHT FIND NEW AND HOPEFULLY MORE CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS TO PROCESS OUR EMOTIONS.

  • EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE NEW, MEANINGFUL AND CREATIVE STEPS FORWARD UNENCUMBERED BY OUR PAST RESPONSES AND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A NEW YEAR OF ACTION.

  • SHARE IN THE GRIEF, PAIN AND PRAYER OF THE BURIAL OF THOSE WE LOST THAT BELONG TO THE GLOBAL, JEWISH FAMILY THROUGH RITUAL BURIAL.

  • COLLECT AND MAKE SENSE OF THE FRAGMENTS, BOTH METAPHORIC AND ACTUAL, OF THE PAST YEAR AND PUT THEM TO REST IN A RITUALLY SATISFYING WAY.

  • CREATE HOPE THROUGH A FUTURE-FOCUSED CAPSULE OF MEMORIES THAT WE EXPECT TO REVISIT IN CELEBRATION OF LIFE

  • SAY GOODBYE TO THOSE THINGS WHICH NO LONGER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY SO WE MAY ANNOUNCE TO THE WORLD OUR CONTINUED RESILIENCE AND NEW MEANS FOR EXPRESSING OURSEVES AND FIGHTING FOR OUR NEEDS.