Uvacharta BaChayim: A Dialogue with Memory
Changing how Israel's culture of remembrance is perceived, and tools for choosing life out of bereavement
Uvacharta BaChayim ("and you shall choose life") was founded in 2016 out of a personal story of loss, with the aim of changing how remembrance culture is perceived in Israel and providing tools for choosing life out of bereavement.
The venture works with students, educators, local authorities and the general public, offering in-depth processes, transformative workshops (phototherapy, videotherapy, writing and dance), Memorial Day eve events and art exhibitions that encourage dialogue and meaning.
By shaping a new narrative of remembrance, one that connects personal resilience with social responsibility, the venture works to cultivate a life-affirming, tolerant and compassionate society, believing that loss is not a choice, but how we cope with it is.
The past year
One of our goals this year is shaping a narrative of remembrance based on choosing life. We see choosing life as a social value that leads to resilience and to personal and social responsibility. We turned to schools out of the belief that education systems play an important role in shaping social and national narratives and perceptions. We ran activities in arts tracks at three schools in Emek Hefer: students explored the concept and meaning of memory through a process-based phototherapy workshop, and went on to create their own works. Their works will be shown in school exhibitions, with a conversation about the process and its meaning.
As part of the belief that art conveys messages in a way that leaves room for personal interpretation, we curated an exhibition at the Herzliya municipal gallery, 'At Day's End, Toward Evening', with 36 artists offering their interpretation of 'twilight'. Within the exhibition we hold content sessions and conversations about the concept through the works, texts and writing.
Emek Hefer Regional Council and Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv
regular volunteers
Venture partners
- Our donors ask to remain anonymous