In September 2024, Jerusalem hosted the reopening of the "Faces of October 7th" exhibition, revisiting the tragic events of the deadliest massacre in Israel's history, which occurred on October 7, 2023. The exhibition features portraits created by graffiti artist Benzi Brofman, depicting victims, hostages, and fallen Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers from that day. Brofman, initially present in Re’im for a peaceful festival just hours before the attack, redirected his artistic efforts in the aftermath to honor those affected.
The portraits capture a broad spectrum of the tragedy: young civilians who were attacked at the Nova music festival, families attacked in their homes, individuals killed while attempting to assist others, IDF soldiers who lost their lives, hostages who have returned, and those still missing or brought home in burial. Each image is accompanied by personal stories, conveying the human dimensions of loss, hope, and ongoing grief endured by families and communities.
The exhibition also addresses a broader struggle surrounding the memory and narrative of the events. According to the organizers, the conflict’s impact extended well beyond Israel, sparking widespread debates internationally regarding facts, memory, and the rights of Israelis to recount their experiences. The organizers report that this has been accompanied by what they describe as denial, disinformation, conspiracy theories, and attempts to delegitimize the victims' suffering.
StandWithUs, the organization behind the exhibition, says it actively counters misinformation through research, education, and public engagement. Its efforts aim to equip supporters of Israel with verified information and personal testimonies to ensure that dialogue remains anchored in truth, even amid political disagreements.
The exhibition combines traditional portraits with video, interactive installations, and virtual reality components, inviting visitors to engage deeply with the stories of October 7. The curators emphasize the importance of remembrance as an active process—encouraging visitors to resist forgetting or allowing these individuals' experiences to fade amid other global crises.
"Faces of October 7th" was on display from September 23 to October 8 at the StandWithUs Katz Education Center in Jerusalem, offering the public an opportunity to confront the human faces behind the headlines and participate in the ongoing effort to preserve the memory of those affected by the 2023 attacks.