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The Museum of Tolerance will feature a temporary exhibition by noted Israeli visual artist, Tomer Peretz, whose work has been featured throughout Europe, the US and Israel. Peretz’s work combines oil and acrylic painting, photography, and conceptual art with a style that blends realism & surrealism.
His collection, “The Light Will Win,” was displayed to coordinate with the first anniversary of the tragic October 7th attacks in Israel.
Peretz was visiting relatives in Tel Aviv when the October 7th attacks occurred. Within 2 days, Peretz volunteered with ZAKA, Israel’s primary non-governmental rescue and recovery organization, where he participated in picking up bodies — and body parts — and placing them in bags and in cooling trucks. The first location Peretz visited as part of his work with Zaka was Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the most deadly sites of the October 7th attacks.
These experiences left an indelible impression upon Peretz which he channeled into his artwork that is featured in the current exhibition; “The Light Will Win.” Speaking of his new collection, Peretz said “The things I saw at Kibbutz Be’eri no one should ever see. I cannot describe them with words; so I hope my art can express a small bit of what I feel.”
Much of the artwork is the result of collaborations between Tomer and other Israelis, including Israeli soldiers who fought in Gaza, Israeli school children, and survivors of October 7th.
For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Erik Simon at esimon@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthalfor news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).