Speaking out against extremism in capital

The Jerusalem Season of Culture believes it is time for the silent moderate majority in Israel’s capital to speak up. Fed up with the noise and damage caused in recent months to the Holy City’s delicate social fabric by extremists and racists, the arts organization is raising its own voice with a new media campaign promoting tolerance, peace and coexistence.

“We had to say something after this horrible summer,” said JSOC associate director Karen Brunwasser. “As an arts organization that is all about this city, we could not let what has happened go ignored.”

The campaign, titled, “We Are Here,” consists of posters, billboards, newspaper ads and postcards with striking visual images created by Yair Moss,Yaron Steinberg and Adi Tako that meld 12 everyday Jerusalemites of different ages and ethnic and religious backgrounds with scenery from a variety of the city’s neighborhoods.

The project’s website explains the choice of this collage technique:      “[It] reflects these residents and their homes. A home that is not just a space that we eat and sleep in, but also the public space in which we spend most of our day. It is the resident’s connection to this space that gives them their voice and tries to ensure they have a central place in the life of the city.”

“We Are Here” also includes a video that combines these creative images with music and a powerful text written by Ariel Adiram and members of the JSOC staff. The people featured in the images read aloud the poetic text, a statement opposing extremism and violence, in three languages: Hebrew, Arabic and English.

“We believe ‘We Are Here’ reflects the voice of the majority of Jerusalem residents who have been drowned out by the extremists,” said Brunswasser.

She sees this effort as just one of several by the moderate majority in favor of humanism and shared pluralistic values.

“Something bigger is happening. The majority in the center is no longer afraid to speak out. Our campaign is meant to empower this message of the moderates, of people who value humanity no matter what form it comes in,” Brunwasser said.

“We Are Here” has been launched in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The campaign may be expanded to include community and arts events later this year.