Being Jewish with Jonah Platt Remembering October 7th with Israeli Artist Tomer Peretz
Oct 7, 2025
Tomer Peretz, an Israeli visual artist and founder of The 8 Project, shares his poignant journey following the October 7 attacks. He discusses using art as a therapeutic tool to help survivors heal and rediscover hope. Tomer recounts the harrowing experiences he faced with ZAKA and how they propelled him to create meaningful connections through art. The conversation explores his transition from documenting trauma to fostering healing in others, and the inspiring evolution of The 8 Project, dedicated to renewing faith and resilience within the community.
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Immediate Volunteer Response
- Tomer woke up in Tel Aviv to rocket alarms during a wedding trip and immediately decided to volunteer with ZAKA.
- He left within hours to join rescue efforts despite being non-religious and unfamiliar with ZAKA's culture.
Witnessing the Nova Site
- Tomer entered the Nova site with ZAKA and witnessed horrific burnings and mutilations that surpassed his IDF experiences.
- He filmed much of it privately and argued the world should see the footage to understand the atrocity.
Post-Return Depression
- After returning to LA Tomer plunged into depression, stopped work, and felt life lost meaning unless he could return to help.
- He struggled with family tensions and an inability to resume prior ventures.