An Israeli exhibition opened this week in the heart of New York City, offering American and Jewish audiences an intimate window into the emotional recovery of Israelis after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“Facing the Sea,” created by artist Daniel Tchetchik in collaboration with the Israeli nonprofit HaGal Sheli (“My Wave”), presents compelling portraits of those affected by that Black Shabbat and the ensuing war, documenting how they navigate trauma and recovery through the sea and surfing.
The exhibition centers on participants in HaGal Sheli’s therapeutic surfing program, “Tools from the Waves.” It supports families of hostages, bereaved families, security forces, Nova Festival survivors and evacuees from the Gaza Envelope, coping with the profound emotional impact of the war. By placing each participant before the horizon of the sea, the exhibition captures moments of confrontation, where grief meets breath, and where survivors choose to step toward healing.
Among those featured are Yuval Sharabi, daughter of Yossi Sharabi, who was murdered after being taken hostage from Kibbutz Be’eri; and Nova survivor Eden Shmuel, who flew to New York for the exhibition’s opening to share her story.
For all of them, the sea became a space where grief and hope meet.
Shmuel said that being part of this project with Daniel Tchetchik and HaGal Sheli was “profoundly moving. It allowed our painful story to be told while giving space to our voices, our resilience. I feel truly honored to have taken part in something that genuinely sees us.”
Artist and photographer Daniel Tchetchik, who has spent more than two decades exploring the sea as a metaphor for human vulnerability and strength, captures this intersection with quiet clarity. His portraits reflect both the lingering pain and the unwavering resilience, showing individuals who chose to face the sea, where the human spirit confronts the tide, and finds reflection, survival and renewal.
Since the start of the Iron Swords War, HaGal Sheli has provided support to more than 5,000 Israelis, extending its work across multiple centers along the coast of Israel, including its newest location at Zikim Beach. During the past 12 years, more than 17,000 people have participated in the organization’s programs, which use surfing as a therapeutic tool to restore emotional resilience and a sense of control.
The exhibition’s arrival in New York brings these stories beyond Israel’s shores. The portraits were also displayed on a Times Square digital billboard, amplifying the voices of survivors in one of the busiest public spaces in the world.
“Facing the Sea” brings HaGal Sheli’s work and the stories behind it to the heart of New York City’s Jewish and wider community. CEO Yaron Waksman, along with Tchetchik and Shmuel, also hosted an event at the JCC in Manhattan to discuss the project and the ongoing emotional recovery taking place in Israel. With more than 2,000 attendees and opinion leaders, it helped connect the Jews of the city to the stories of resilience and recovery that the exhibition portrays.
