We do so because we are living through a time that feels increasingly hopeless — marked by war, polarization, rising antisemitism, and the erosion of shared values. In this atmosphere, hope is not a given; it is something we must search for, wrestle with, and perhaps reimagine.

For Jewish communities around the world, the events in Israel and Gaza have deepened these reflections, challenging personal identities and communal relationships. At the same time, the urgency of building bridges, questioning narratives, and holding space for complexity has never been greater.

It is impossible to ignore that our theme echoes the title of the Israeli national anthem, HaTikvah — “The Hope.”

Written in the 19th century, before the founding of the State, it imagined a future of freedom and return for Jews. Today, its meanings are more fraught than ever. The country that had been the beacon of hope for the Jewish people is presently triggering a global backlash against Zionism, a rise in antisemitism, and an existential reckoning for many Jewish people.

In response, we are seeing many Jews turn to tradition for answers. Studying Jewish scripture may serve as a respite from violence. Similarly, for this year’s FestivALT, many artists — Jewish and non-Jewish, observant and secular — are turning to texts, rituals, and memories as tools for navigating a fractured present. They are not searching for simple answers, but for continuity and complexity — for echoes of voices across centuries trying to make sense of danger, exile, and renewal. Through art, they ask: Is hope possible? Can it be shared? At what cost? And can we still use this language to dream of a shared future?

At FestivALT, we don’t offer slogans or solutions. What we offer is space — to listen, reflect, and struggle with difficult questions. In art, dialogue, and memory, we find ways to move, even if unsteadily, toward something more just and more human.

Michael Rubenfeld, FestivALT Co-Director