A new exhibit set up on Boston City Hall plaza Sunday, offering residents the chance to see more about the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the experience of hostages taken by Hamas on that day.
“My brother is held hostage,” said Effie Yahalomi, standing in front of a sign showing her now 50-year-old brother Ohad Yahalomi. “I want him back, and we been traveling around the world for 10-plus months now to advocate for the rescue and release of the hostages, all the hostages.”
Ohad Yahalomi, a worker at Israeli National Parks is featured along with many other faces of hostages in the “Boston Unites Against Terror: Hostage Tunnel Immersive Exhibit,” was taken hostage on Oct. 7 with about 250 people in Israel. An estimated 115 hostages remain Hamas captives in Gaza.
Ohad Yahalomi was captured from his home with his wife, 12-year-old son and 10-year-old and 20-month-old daughters, his sister said. His wife and daughters managed to escape before reaching the border. His son was released after 52 days in captivity.
Effie Yahalomi said her brother is passionate about nature and has the ability to connect with people and “touch their hearts.”
“I am hoping even in captivity he can connect with the people that hold him,” said Effie Yahalomi. “I miss him a lot.”
The exhibit, which began outside the UN in Geneva, will remain in Boston for three days before moving to the next stop. The walk-through is sponsored by B’nai B’rith International and aims to “provide insight into the hostages’ experience.”
The exhibit features sections depicting sexual violence against women during the Oct. 7 attack, a tunnel meant to immerse visitors in the hostages’ experience, images of the hostages and attack aftermath, and the opportunity to talk to hostages’ families.
“It’s very hard to imagine what it could be like, and it’s sometimes so horrible for people that they won’t or don’t imagine what it’s like to be in their shoes,” said co-organizer Aylit Schultz. “So this exhibit, and it being an experiential, immersive, multi-sensory exhibit, is meant to let people connect and feel those emotions and not be numb, even though it’s horrible. Really raise the empathy.”
A volunteer estimated 900 people registered for tickets to the exhibit during the three days and others walked through on Sunday, representing Greater Boston and towns around Massachusetts.
Schultz said there was not an organized presence of protestors Sunday.
“The people I have met since Oct. 7 have just poured their hearts and souls into trying to do what they can to fight for these people to come home, and that has been one thing that makes us feel a little better to see the community coming together and working so hard to raise awareness,” Schultz said.
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