On October 7, He Buried the Dead, 2 Years Later He Helps Survivors LIVE- Israeli Artist Tomer Peretz

On the second anniversary of October 7th, Jonah Platt sits down with Israeli artist and advocate Tomer Peretz to discuss The 8 Project — an extraordinary initiative he launched in the aftermath of the attacks. Rooted in the symbolism of creation, resilience, and renewal, The 8 Project helps survivors of October 7th — from NOVA attendees and hostage families to soldiers and grieving parents — discover how art can be a powerful path to healing. For Tomer, that lesson is deeply personal. In Israel for a wedding just days before the attacks, he witnessed the horror of October 7th firsthand. He put his emotions aside to volunteer with ZAKA, Israel’s emergency rescue organization, but the weight of it all eventually caught up with him. What helped him process the pain was art — a lifeline that not only restored his own hope, but also reignited his belief in the strength of the Jewish and Israeli people. The results of that creative resilience were recently showcased at The Museum of Tolerance, featuring works from survivors across Israel. In this emotional and deeply meaningful episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah and Tomer explore the power of art therapy, the unbreakable connection between creativity and faith, and the urgent importance of sharing the stories of those who survived. 00:00 Tomer Peretz: The Two-Year Anniversary 03:50 Feeling Guilt: Volunteering with ZAKA 07:46 First on Site: Kibbutz & Nova 11:41 Why Footage Must Be Shared 13:30 The Fight: Propaganda War vs. Truth 17:15 From IDF Photographer to ZAKA 20:53 ZAKA Work as Personal Healing 26:55 How October 7th Changed Israelis 35:55 Banned from Art Basel for Art 39:35 Art as a Medium for Truth 50:50 Current Mission: Documentary and Book 54:15 Fighting for Future Generations Support Tomer Peretz's work and his mission to help trauma survivors. Follow Tomer Peretz: - https://www.instagram.com/tomerperetzart/?hl=en Follow Jonah Platt: - https://www.instagram.com/jonahplatt/?hl=en Subscribe for more episodes of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt! #TomerPeretz #October7th #ZAKA #NovaFestival #KibbutzBeeri #BeingJewishWithJonahPlatt #JonahPlattPodcast #IsraeliArtist #IDFVeteran #JewishPodcast #IsraelWar #TraumaHealing #Unbreakable #IsraelStories