NOVA Memorial Site

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NOVA Memorial Site

“Your light will continue to shine bright and your joyous laughter will forever be remembered”

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“Anemones Before the Rain”

On October 7, 2023, the murderous attack on the communities surrounding the fields of protected anemones turned them into fields of blood.

Following these events, the artist Yaffa Solomon sought to give artistic expression to the pain, and she conceived of the “Anemones Before the Rain” project – a project based on the creation of red anemones from ceramics, which correspond with the blood that was spilled then and since. Thousands of people across the country joined the initiative, gave personal expression to their pain, and together created tens of thousands of anemones, which were placed at memorial sites throughout Israel.

As part of the project, artist Shlomit Hefer curated and planned the installation in the Re’im parking lot. Some 30,000 red ceramic anemones converge on a carpet with a Star of David at the center, symbolizing the unity of Israeli society in the country’s difficult times. Walking along the paths among the thousands of red anemones evokes feelings of memory and pain, along with identification, power, and renewal.

All the anemones were created with love by thousands of artists from Dan to Eilat, who opened their studios and invited many volunteers to take part in their preparation. More than 15,000 people expressed their pain and their feelings through their personal creations.

The first 1,400 anemones were installed at a site at the Dead Sea, the lowest place in the world, as a metaphor for the low point at which the State of Israel found itself after the events of October 7. From there, the journey continued to Kibbutz Be’eri, where they were installed on the ruins of the gallery, and later at a roundabout in the Mishor Hagefen neighborhood in Ofakim. After Ofakim, anemones were installed at the site commemorating the remains of the police station in Sderot, and the next location after that was the Moshav Tekuma burnt cars memorial site. The anemones were also installed at Kerem Shalom and at dozens of other memorial sites throughout the country. By the time of the first anniversary of the events of October 7, more than 100,000 anemones had been placed at sites throughout Israel.

At the Re’im parking lot, the project has taken on another aspect, connecting the man-made anemones with local nature. With the arrival of the rains, the natural anemones bloom and blend in with the thousands of red ceramic anemones. The encounter between them expresses growth, prosperity and renewal, and carries with it the hope that it is possible to grow out of the heavy disaster, strengthen and work together for the revival, prosperity and prosperity of the country.

The “Anemones Before the Rain” team:

Shlomit Hefer, Varda Har Zvi, Dana Mishali and Pnina Lachish, at the initiative of Yaffa Solomon.

A big thank you to the volunteers who lovingly created the anemones, and to those who came from all parts of the country and took part in the project.