Three Days of Special Programming, October 7 - 9, 2025

(WASHINGTON, DC) — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will recognize the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre in Israel with three days of special programming, presented in partnership with the Hostages & Missing Families Forum and with support from Shari Redstone of the Redstone Family Foundation.

“We remember the innocent concert goers who were violently murdered by Hamas. And we remember the families who are still waiting for their loved ones to be returned.” – Kennedy Center President, Ambassador Richard Grenell

At the heart of the commemoration is a public Sukkah of Hope, created with the Hostages & Missing Families Forum. Serving as both a space for prayer and gathering and a living reminder of the hostages both lost and still being held, the Sukkah will host two days (October 7–8) of interfaith gatherings, survivor and family testimonies, vigils, song circles, and advocacy events.

On October 9, the Kennedy Center will open EDUT: The Visual Testimony of October 7, an exhibition by Israeli artist Marc Provisor, followed by a special screening of SIPUR Studios’ Emmy Award–winning documentary We Will Dance Again. EDUT will remain on view through October at the Kennedy Center.

This commemoration ensures the memory of October 7 remains alive while keeping the plight of the hostages at the forefront of national and global attention.

About the Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Formed less than 24 hours after the horrific Hamas attack on Israeli villages and towns on October 7th, 2023, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is a civil, volunteer-based organization with no political affiliation, focused on bringing our loved ones back home by any means necessary through all available channels. The forum includes thousands of volunteers, from the families themselves to senior figures in the security, judicial, communication, advertising, creative, and diplomatic sectors.

To learn more, please visit stories.bringthemhomenow.net.

About the Redstone Family Foundation

The Redstone Family Foundation is dedicated to building a future free from antisemitism and racism. To achieve this, the mission of the Redstone Family Foundation is to empower communities through education, film, media, and art to create opportunities for open dialogue.

For more information, visit www.redstoneforum.org.

About the Kennedy Center

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is America’s living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, attracting millions of visitors each year to more than 2,000 performances, events, and exhibits. With its artistic affiliates, the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera, the Center is one of the nation’s busiest performing arts centers, dedicated to providing world-class art, powerful education, and outstanding memorial experiences to the broadest possible constituency.

To learn more about the Kennedy Center, please visit www.kennedy-center.org.

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