In the wake of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, particularly on American college campuses, the term Zionism has increasingly been weaponized by those with extreme ideologies, antisemitic intentions or efforts to deny Israel’s right to exist.
Protests erupt, slogans are chanted, and debates rage. Yet behind the rhetoric lies a raw, complex reality—one that many students have yet to confront.
As American activists wave flags, Israeli society—Jews, Muslims, Druze and Christians—grapple with what Zionism means in the wake of Oct. 7. A new traveling exhibit, “(RE)Defining Zionism: Portraits and Perspectives from a Post-October 7 Israel,” brings their lived experiences into the heart of campus discourse.
Running from April 7 to June 25 at Hillel at the University of California, Los Angeles, the exhibit features unfiltered portraits and personal stories from more than 60 Israelis, challenging the one-dimensional narratives dominating Western debates. It forces viewers, whether staunchly anti-Zionist or deeply Zionist, to rethink their assumptions and engage with perspectives they may have never considered.
“Campus conversations on Zionism often force people into ideological boxes: Either you stand for Palestinian rights, or you stand for Israel,” says photographer Shlomit Levy Bard, who traveled across Israel capturing these powerful stories. “But in Israel, the lines aren’t so clear-cut. This exhibit challenges those binaries, offering firsthand perspectives that refuse to be reduced to a slogan.”
In Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beersheva and the Gaza border, Levy Bard photographed and interviewed ordinary citizens as well as some well-known figures. She met people of all ages and backgrounds, spanning religious, ideological and cultural divides. Their words and images reveal a striking diversity of perspectives even within Israel, challenging viewers to examine their preconceptions. The portraits capture the interplay between personal and collective identities, offering a space for reflection on religion, history, culture and human rights.
The exhibit encourages viewers to explore their own understanding of Zionism beyond rhetoric and polarization. Students and community members will also be invited into the space for meaningful conversations, encouraging engagement with the diverse and often conflicting perspectives that shape this issue.
“(RE)Defining Zionism: Portraits and Perspectives from a Post-October 7 Israel” is sponsored by the Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies at UCLA; the Dortort Center for Creativity in the Arts at UCLA Hillel; the Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies at UCLA; and UCLA Hillel.
