Musician Ran Elmaleh Recounts Trauma and Creative Rebirth Post-October 7
Ran Elmaleh, a musician from the bandכנסיית השכל (Knesset Ha'Sikhel), described the shock and disbelief of October 7th, which caught him and his family off guard at their home in Kibbutz Dorot, near the Gaza border. Initially mistaking the early sounds for a routine missile attack, the reality of the invasion gradually became apparent through phone calls from friends in nearby kibbutzim hearing Arabic spoken outside. Elmaleh recounts the fear of leaving their protected space and the subsequent decision to flee south to Eilat with his family, facing initial difficulties finding accommodation due to their large dog.
After three weeks in Eilat, the family moved to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel for several months before returning to Kibbutz Dorot. Elmaleh expresses a sense of relative safety in his kibbutz, which is accustomed to security threats, but acknowledges the lingering anxiety. He understands why some friends, especially those closer to the border or with young children, chose to leave, but feels compelled to stay in his home.
Elmaleh revealed that the trauma of October 7th rendered him unable to play or create music for two years. He described his initial attempts to perform with his band as robotic and joyless, finding solace only in connecting with other evacuees. His creative block began to lift about a year ago when he was given access to a music room in his kibbutz. He spent eight months immersed in playing and writing, resulting in a full album that is now in the mixing stage.
In addition to his musical work, Elmaleh is participating in 'Voices from the Gaza Envelope,' an exhibition in Jaffa featuring over 75 artists from the Gaza envelope region. The exhibition includes works by artists who were murdered on October 7th, alongside those who continue to create. Elmaleh's contribution is a series exploring the deconstruction of a spiral object, symbolizing the interplay between destruction and renewal he observes in his war-affected region.
Elmaleh also discussed his background as a 3D animator, explaining that he has always engaged in visual art as a personal outlet and a way to recharge, even while focusing on music. He views his artistic endeavors as a continuous dialogue between music and animation. Despite the pervasive sense of destruction in his surroundings, Elmaleh maintains an optimistic outlook, believing that good things are more likely to happen than bad.