“The fear experienced by men and the fear experienced by women are not the same fear,” says Einav, one of 60 Israeli women featured in “October 7 HerStory,” which will have an exclusive U.S. showing in in New York on December 9, 2024.
“October 7 HerStory” created by the Eden Association, a Core grant recipient of the Hadassah Foundation, combines filmed testimonies and art, highlighting the collective trauma of Israeli women following the massacre on October 7. The exhibit will be on view at “HF@25,” a program on December 9 commemorating the Hadassah Foundation’s 25 years of grantmaking to improve the lives of women and girls throughout Israel and the United States. Held at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan, the event will include an award ceremony honoring Emmy Award-winning actress Debra Messing, along with symposia led by other Hadassah Foundation grant recipients. Event registration and sponsorship opportunities are at hadassahfoundation.networkforgood.com.
Scroll down for additional October 7 HerStory testimonies with English subtitles.
An Israeli nonprofit that specializes in treating trauma and complex post-trauma in girls and women, the Eden Association has been operating near Israel’s Gaza border since 1997. Its trauma-informed counseling and programs include a post-hospitalization residential trauma care facility for girls, a holistic occupational preparation program for young women, and a training center for Israel-based mental health professionals. The exhibition uses the Eden Association’s trauma-informed approach of creating safe spaces for women to tell their stories.
“We are proud to assist women in shedding the societal blame and harnessing the strength within themselves for a personal healing and growth journey,” said Ronit Shoval, CEO of the Eden Association. “We operate under the belief that girls and women are not to blame for what has happened to them. They are not responsible for the sexual violence they have experienced, they are not to blame for being born into poverty, and they are not at fault for attending the Nova Festival or living in a community that was attacked by terrorists on October 7th. However, only they can decide to confront the consequences of the events their minds have endured. When they choose to face these challenges, it is our duty to create a safe and professional therapeutic space that offers them a genuine opportunity for healing and for lives filled with quality and meaning. Thus, based on the Eden model, we strive to create more and more professional and healing spaces for young women and girls.”
“We’re honored to bring ‘October 7 Herstory’ to the United States,” said Stephanie Blumenkranz, the director of the Hadassah Foundation. “This exhibit demonstrates the unique and profoundly different experiences of women during the war and the importance of using a gender lens when addressing trauma and mental health in general. The Hadassah Foundation is proud to support the Eden Association along with numerous other organizations that are responding to the unique and changing needs of women and girls. The organizations supported by the Hadassah Foundation impact over 100,000 individuals throughout Israel and the United States and address a myriad of issues. For instance, Moving Traditions based in the U.S., provides educational spaces where Jewish youth can be emboldened and thrive – even in today’s turbulent environment.”
To attend the December 9 program at the Center for Jewish History, visit hadassahfoundation.networkforgood.com
To view additional videos from October 7 HerStory visit Eden Association’s YouTube channel.