Even the anguish of war can’t keep love from flourishing. This Tu B’Av, the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem will unveil Love in the Shadow of War, a contemporary photographic exhibition that captures the love stories of couples who came together after the Hamas mega-attack on October 7, their love having blossomed by chance amid war.
The exhibition, curated by Ifat Shomrony and photographed by Limor Zadok, is a collection of paired photographs of eight couples and the stories behind them. Depicting themes of struggle, vulnerability, and hope, each duo represents one image grounded in pain and the other highlighting the safety and warmth found in their bond.
“There were two points: navigating the struggle and chaos of two people as one, and recognizing the love they offered because of it. We took two photos: one of pain and one of love. We experienced the process together,” said Zadok.
For one of the couples, Rimonda Elisha, 72, and Ilan Etzioni, 80, October 7 was a caveat to their meeting.
At the start of the war, through the chaos of constant rockets and sirens, all Elisha could think about was the meat in her freezer and dividing it up among her children. According to Shomrony and Zadok, she related having driven long distances to offer portions of the frozen meat to her children and their families.
Elisha had never intended on remarrying after becoming a widow. She met Etzioni at the assisted living facility where their paths intertwined. Their connection is described as almost instant. Together they learned to love again. Etzioni proposed to Elisha in what can be thought of as an ironic setting, distinct to their story – a walk in a meat freezer.
Another couple, Tal Parnass and Giora Marani, met while attending an Ice Bath workshop for soldiers, in memory of Ely – a dear friend of Marani’s. Sharing a passion for the discipline and experience, they “clicked” as friends.
Even though Parnass never met Ely, she feels connected to him, as he was a moving part of her and Marani’s relationship.
“Life is stronger than anything. Loss is a part of life and love; it’s a driving force,” she said. The couple will marry on Tu B’Av.
Marani said that, despite their pain and difficulty, he hopes people come away with a positive takeaway from their photos and story. “I’d say optimism… The light within the photos [shines] a light on the things that are positive,” he said.
Zadok emphasized that lighting and focus are essential to clarity in photography. For her, the lighting was a way to appreciate the journey of emotions that followed.
More than art
Curator Shomrony used her background in journalism to help craft her approach when interviewing couples and interacting with the entirety of the process.
She praised Zadok’s ability to blend her knowledge and training in psychology with her skill in capturing emotional vulnerability through the camera’s lens.
Having previously worked with both Zadok and graphic designer Orit Elzner, Shomrony knew they were the right collaborators to breathe Love in the Shadow of War to life. Together, they have amplified the voices of couples who want to offer a perspective of emotional depth unique to the human experience of love within loss.
Tu B’Av – a holiday that has long stood for joyful abundance – an appropriate transition from the serious and weighted “three weeks” period and the Tisha B’Av fast, marks the transition from a national period of grief to anticipation of happier times. This year, it is celebrated from Friday night to Saturday.
The timing of the exhibition’s opening was chosen to reflect its symbolic parallel to the example of love’s fortitude. More than individual release, sharing these stories can be taken as a national nod of resilience.
“The exhibition deals with loss and rupture, but also with love that insists on existing. That’s something that resonates with me deeply,” said Elzner.
According to Shomrony, Love in the Shadow of War aims to illustrate love as a form of resistance and strength. So it made sense to present the exhibit at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, as the museum aims to demonstrate connections of peace and love, qualities that connect to a form of tolerance and coexistence.
“The way, tolerance is reflected through our exhibition – the bridge of love and war. It fits,” said Shomrony.
Jonathan Riss, CEO of the museum, added that the exhibit succeeds in presenting hardship and resilience in a thoughtful and sensitive manner.
“Especially in days when fear and pain threaten to overwhelm, we choose to amplify a voice of healing, connection, and hope – the power of love. Love in the Shadow of War is a direct continuation of our commitment to telling the story of the Israeli individual at their most difficult moments, and alongside hardship, to also present a voice of resilience and light,” he said.
“If our exhibition 06:29 – From Darkness to Light reflects the beginning of the Israeli story, this one affirms our uncompromising ability to renew and even grow love.”
Shomrony referred to the recent 06:29 exhibit as the museum’s first chapter, which first focuses on the loss, then enters into hope. She explained that Love in the Shadow of War is like the next chapter, on a national level.
“As a curator and storyteller, this is a chance to honor something fragile and beautiful. Love can find us even in the rubble,” said Shomrony. “Even when everything is burning, love can grow; it’s part of our national story.
“I was inspired by Leonard Cohen’s famous lyrics, ‘There is a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.’”
Love in the Shadow of War proudly bears the battle scars of its muses. Their pain is not overlooked; rather, it is embraced.
The exhibit opens on August 8 and will remain on display through early fall. Tickets can be purchased at motj.org.il/en/events-en/love-in-the-shadow-of-war.