In Gush Etzion, Israeli students transform years of upheaval into art

Graduating students from the Ohr Torah Stone Ann Belsky Moranis Arts Program at Katz Oriya High School for Girls in Gush Etzion are showcasing an exhibition titled "Habayta" ("Homeward"), reflecting on identity, grief, resilience, and hope. The exhibition, featuring visual art, design, film, dance, and theater, explores the theme "Finding Order in Chaos" after years marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent war. Racheli Komar, director of the 12th-grade arts program, noted that the students explored what the war revealed about themselves, their families, relationships, hope, and the future. The exhibition includes deeply personal works, such as Shira Cohen's painting inspired by the Dee family tragedy, where she stated, "We want to move forward, and we must continue, but the heart always remembers the past." Another student, Hallel Shayon, created a portrait commemorating Staff Sgt. Dotan Shimon using collected beer bottle caps. Yonat Lemberger, the school's principal, emphasized the importance of nurturing emotional resilience alongside academic achievement during these challenging times.