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ABE WON'T BE SILENT - Yesterday was a game-changer. Los Angeles is hosting the controversial Nova Exhibition that was recently shown in New York City. The Nova Exhibition is a moving—non-denominational, a-political, overwhelming, poetic in the abstract, heartfelt, courageous, extraordinary, inspirational, hard to comprehend—presentation of the truth. Truth. Is that a concept that has any meaning anymore? Despite the sad new truth about truth, Nova shows you what happened on that fateful day. War is hell, yet this somehow was worse.
What erupted at 6:29 AM on October 7, after thousands of beautiful, joyous souls were peaking in a state of transcendence, the devil rose from hell and stole their souls in one—horrendous, incomprehensible—fell swoop. Nova speaks to what occurred on that fateful day on the dance floor. An event dedicated to music as the universal language that brings people together. A free-love festival where dancing under the twinkling stars till sunrise was the only agenda for the revelers. This diverse group of happy people were not there to sew hate, to destroy lives, to deny anyone their place in this world.
What was so emotional about my experience being at Nova was how it brought back so many long-lost memories. Stories my mother told us about her experience during the Holocaust. Surviving the unthinkable between the Vilna Ghetto, the cattle cars, Dachau concentration camp, and the Death March. As a child, my mom’s stories conjured up unfathomable imagery that could never be erased—better pushed way back into my psyche. At Nova, thoughts and remembrances crept up and lived alongside the traumatic footage and recordings that comprise the Nova Exhibition. It was a connection to the past that made me feel hopeful and connected to my amazing parents who are no longer with us for having lived through the worst of mankind. Those who once again are freely walking our streets.
Let’s face it, Jews notoriously, historically, unfortunately have been slaughtered and chased from their homes—Spain in the 1490s, Russia in the 1900s, Europe in the 1940s, and our original homeland, Judea by the Romans in 70 AD. So, y’all can have and keep your opinions to yourself when we defend our freedom to exist.
Freedom….hmmm…now there’s a word that sounds familiar. If I’m not drunk, isn’t it the current theme from the Democratic National Convention this year? Freedom. Fighting for our freedom? Defending our freedoms to choose, to love, to vote?
[SIDEBAR] I have been talking for months about using the word “Freedom” to replace the overused word “Democracy” this election cycle. Glad y’all got the message and it stuck!
If ‘Freedom’ is good enough for America to stand for, it better be good enough for Israel, and any other democracy around the world. To deny the freedoms of the Jewish people and the state of Israel to exist is at your own peril. The same way we Americans have the right to live our best lives and select our preferred political parties and presidential candidates, which best suits our emotional well-being.
Tangents aside, if you are in the Los Angeles area, please visit the Nova Exhibition in Culver City. I promise those two hours will open your heart to the humanity that originally created the Nova Festival. The intention of the Nova Exhibition by the creators have an important message as one of the key takeaways—to be part of healing the world. Yes, I said that. After what they experienced and survived, their goal—which has been achieved—is to present a beautiful, meaningful, impactful happening. A moment that must be experienced to those with a heart.
Peace…Literally & Figuratively,
(ABE GURKO is the executive producer of a documentary “Won’t Be Silent,” about the extraordinary Women of Protest Music. He's an Opinionator who hosts a podcast, "Won't Be Silent," engaging in conversations from the edge of democracy. Abe is a contributor to CityWatchLA.com. [email protected])
PS…Please check out my book, “Won’t Be Silent – Don’t Stop ‘til It Matters”.
