Art exhibition brings together 13 Israeli widows to express the meaning of love

What is love? This is the question posed by a special art exhibition in Israel which reflects the emotions of 13 widows of IDF soldiers and victims of terror. The number 13 symbolically corresponds in Kabbala to the Hebrew word for love. 

Through personal narratives, memory and inspiration drawn from nature, The Nature of Love presents love that transcends physical presence – a love that continues to exist beyond loss: a lasting, feminine and enduring force. These women seek to convey their personal and profound understanding of the nature of love through photos of hearts in nature, paired with commentaries written by them.

Curator Sigalit Zilkha-Niewodowki says: “I believe the exhibition has the power to create a significant cultural event centered on memory, female empowerment and mutual responsibility, while strengthening the connection between Jewish communities in the Diaspora and the State of Israel through these authentic and deeply human stories.”

The concept emerged in February this year, when Sigalit was invited to a cultural gathering with widows of fallen IDF soldiers and victims of terror. The encounter was led by Hadassa Ben-Ari, author of the book What Do You Know About Longing – Widows Speak of Love.

“As I listened to the panel discussion, I was deeply moved, not only by the individuality of each woman, but by their remarkable ability to transform profound grief into a space of resilience, optimism and an enduring belief in love that transcends physical presence,” Sigalit explains. “As a curator, I felt a strong responsibility to create a meaningful platform that would amplify their voices.”

Around Valentine’s Day, Sigalit launched The Nature of Love exhibition in Israel, with the intention of later presenting it internationally – within Jewish communities and beyond – as an expression of mutual responsibility, compassion, and respect for these women and the complex realities they navigate.

The personal testimonies have been paired with the photographic work of Eti Karo Abekasis, whose images capture heart-shaped forms found in nature – created spontaneously, without human intervention. “This visual language offers a subtle yet powerful metaphor for love as something organic, enduring and ever-present,” says Sigalit.

The exhibition was made possible with the support of a female Israeli philanthropist who embraced the vision and helped bring it to fruition. It opened at the Forest of Possibilities, a therapeutic woodland space established in the wake of October 7 as part of a healing environment for individuals affected by massacre. “This setting created a profound dialogue between heart, nature, and emotional experience,” says Sigalit.

“At its core, the exhibition serves as a platform to amplify the voices of the 13 women women and to reflect their place within Israeli society, shaped by a complex and often incomprehensible reality. It is grounded in values of mutual responsibility, empathy and respect.”