Love in the Shadow of War
The photography exhibition Love in the Shadow of War, inaugurated in honor of Tu B’Av (the Jewish day of Love), presents eight portraits of couples whose love stories blossomed during the Swords of Iron War. Amid a reality marked by fear, loss, and upheaval, these couples found rare moments of tenderness, closeness, and love.
The exhibition is both a direct continuation of the Museum’s permanent exhibition, 06:29: From Darkness to Light, which tells the courageous stories of 35 women who survived the atrocities of October 7, as well as a reflection on the power of love, healing, and renewal.
The couples featured in the exhibition form a diverse mosaic of Israeli society: young and old, female and male soldiers, new immigrants, formerly religious individuals, wounded survivors, and widows and widowers. Their stories begin in unexpected places, including a chance encounter in the lobby of a retirement community, a quiet late-night conversation inside a tank, a shared cigarette on the battlefield, or time spent together in a safe room in the Gaza border region while a terrorist remained nearby. Each couple is photographed in two moments: The first reflects the fracture and hardship they endured, while the second expresses their choice to embrace love.
Throughout the project, the couples shared their stories with remarkable openness and honesty, speaking about the privilege of finding love in such difficult times. Many described a sense of purpose in sharing their experiences to inspire hope and optimism in others. We are deeply grateful to them for doing so.
Concept and Curator: Yifat Shomroni
Photographer: Limor Zadok
Please Note:
The exhibition is available exclusively through a guided museum tour.
