Boy George meets with Herzog, visits Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem during Israel trip

On Monday, during his visit to Israel, Boy George met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. Present at the event were Sylvan Adams, President of World Jewish Congress Israel, and Elkana Bohbot, a former Gaza hostage and member of the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem’s board of directors.

Herzog praised Boy George for his support of the Jewish people and thanked him for his public backing. The leader acknowledged the surge in attacks against Israel and Jews since October 7 and highlighted Boy George’s song “We Will Dance Again” as a profound message of moral clarity and decency. Boy George responded by noting that the song had forced him to grow up, becoming more aware of the emotional challenges and the hurdles faced by the Jewish community.

Herzog also thanked Boy George for his visit and his dedication to spreading a message of unity and resilience. Elkana Bohbot shared his personal story of being kidnapped during the Nova festival and his subsequent release after 738 days in captivity. He thanked Boy George for his friendship and his decision to bring music to Israel, emphasizing that the spirit of life and celebration would never be extinguished.

Boy George visited the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, where he toured the exhibition “06:29 - From Darkness to Light,” which documented the events of October 7 and the aftermath through photographs and personal testimonies. The museum’s CEO, Jonathan Riss, and Adams led the tour, with Sigal Mansouri, whose daughters were murdered at the festival, also participating. The exhibition aimed to foster understanding, spark conversations, and honor the victims’ stories.

Boy George reflected on the emotional weight of the museum, noting that in a world dominated by superficial interactions, places like the Museum of Tolerance provided a necessary platform for confronting the harsh realities of human suffering. He emphasized the importance of not allowing hateful narratives to dominate public discourse and the necessity of focusing on the true stories of those affected by the attacks.

The singer’s connection to the Nova community began with a visit to the Nova exhibition in London, which left a lasting impression on him. He later released the song “We Will Dance Again,” accompanied by photographs of the victims. Boy George announced that his upcoming November 7 performance in Israel would be dedicated to the Nova community, underscoring his commitment to raising awareness and supporting those impacted by the tragedy.