'A more beautiful side of Israel': This Canadian-led photography collective is raising money for kibbutzim attacked by Hamas

Culturally Jewish

When Niv Shimshon woke up to the horror of what happened in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, he immediately contacted his friends and family back in his home country. The Israeli-born photographer—who moved to Canada 10 years ago, now living in Hamilton with his wife and two young children—could only donate a bit of money to his family's kibbutz and offer words of support.

Feeling helpless, he decided to take action. He began contacting Jewish and Israeli photographers across Israel and North America, inviting them to contribute to a fundraising project, wherein they would sell prints of their work and donate all proceeds to the kibbutzim attacked near the Gaza border. Word quickly spread, and soon Shimshon had assembled a collective of more than 20 photographers on the website Photographers for Israel. In less than a week, they've raised $1,500 in net profit for their cause.

Ilana Zackon sat down with Shimshon and one of the project's Canadian contributors, Brant Slomovic, a emergency physician-turned-photographer, about their initiative and how Jewish artists from afar can help Israel in these difficult times.

Show notes

• Visit the store at photographersforisrael.com
• See more of Niv Shimshon's work on his website
• See Brant Slomovic's work on his website
• Get tickets to "Jewish Futures: An Arts and Culture Salon", happening Nov. 26 at the Prosserman JCC

Credits

Culturally Jewish is hosted by Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Our producer is Michael Fraiman, and our theme music is by Sarah Segal-Lazar. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.