Irit Peltz - a multidisciplinary artist - life's challenges and sorrow alongside the battle, sprouts from her works

Irit Peltz, is a multidisciplinary artist. She was born in Tiberias (1951) and from her childhood she loved to draw and create. Until her retirement, she worked as a physiotherapist at the geriatric rehabilitation hospital, "Fliman" in Haifa.

The meeting with the elderly patients greatly influenced her works, and indeed her solo exhibition entitled "My dreams will fade" dealt with old age, loneliness and illness - this alongside her life with the father of her three children, who was disabled by the IDF and a combat veteran.

"I live here too"

Here is the section that brings you fascinating Haifa characters in their homes where the introduction is through the stories, the charges and the unique point of view of the people who make up the human mosaic of our city Haifa. That is, these are the people who live and live here, just like the name of the section - "I also live here".

As part of this section we will get to know Haifa characters and their place of residence. The introduction is not through the square footage of the apartment, or a real estate appraisal or a design description only - but the essence of this introduction is to get to know the host's house, to the stories, to the emotional baggage and to the unique personal point of view. This time we will have an artistic, powerful and unique experience in the presence of the artist The rabbi Irit Peltz

Physiotherapy + about 40 exhibitions

In addition to physical therapy studies, Irit also studied creative arts at the University of Haifa and Eretz Yisrael studies. Her three adult children are engaged in art in various fields, music, dance, photography and landscape architecture. At the age of 60 she retired and from now on she fulfills her mission in plastic art, and since then she has presented her works in about 40 group exhibitions in Israel and abroad (in Moscow and Paris) and a solo exhibition in Haifa.

The motif of sadness kicking in an unfortunate trauma

The poet Elsa Lasker Schiller fled the Nazi regime and in her last years lived in Israel. Most of her days in Israel she was sick and miserable. In her poem she wrote:
"My dreams will fade -
I have never rhymed such a sad ending
In my books of songs that they will sing."

In her exhibition and in her works, it is not for nothing that Irit repeated the sad motif - as a repetitious rhyme, as a recurring and faded dream - this is because even during her own life history we find the same sad motif kicking in an unfortunate trauma.

Mother Ilona/Ilana and father Tadak/Gadi

Irit describes her childhood in Tiberias in her own words as "a magical childhood, a kind of heaven on earth". Irit has one twin sister, Orna, whose childhood relationships were symbiotic and wonderful. 

Iman Ilona came to Israel from Poland in 1950. Here she changed her name to Ilana and later worked as a pharmacist. Their father Gadi-Tadek was already a 'veteran immigrant' at the time, as he arrived from Poland before the mother, in 1948. Since he was a medic - he was immediately "called to the flag" directly to the ranks of the Palmach and later served as a camp commander in the Coast Guard. Irit says that even as a child she understood the beauty of her parents' couple.

The Weinberg-Carmon twins as the "princesses of the city of Tiberias"

In many studies, the relationship between twins was examined according to five main indicators:

• Closeness: for example in the feeling of "having a great time with the other twin"
• dependence: For example in feeling: "Musbarach when he is separated from the other twin"
• Dominance: for example in the phrase: "I like to tell the other twin what to do"
• Conflict: for example in conduct: "argues and argues with the other twin"
• Rivalry: for example in the situation: "Jealous or not-happy when mother does things with the other twin"

During their childhood, the Tiberian twins, home to the Weinberg family ('Har Hein' - which changes to: Carmon) felt themselves to be the "princesses of the city of Tiberias", as the Weinberg family was well-known and respected in the city. Therefore, the move to Haifa (because of the father's position and service), in 1960 - was a difficult transition for the twins.

Studies in Haifa

In the Neve Shanan neighborhood, Irit completed her elementary studies at the Tel Hai school and later began her studies at Urban High School III, but finished at Beit Shinoch High School.
As mentioned, the integration of the twins in the 'Mountain City' was accompanied by difficulties of acclimatization, but with their integration in the 'High School of Education' - they once again became the 'dominant twins'.

Today, the 'Beit Shinoch High School' building is used as the home of the 'Haifa Museum', where in the early 50s a private high school operated in the morning called the 'Beit Shinoch High School for Workers' Children' which was run by a teachers' cooperative and belonged to the 'Workers Stream' - and in the evenings a high school An evening called 'New High School'. At the end of the 60s, a branch of the Histadrut school 'Mashlav' began to operate there in the afternoons, preparing older students for matriculation exams.

Radar in the Navy

Following her father's footsteps, Irit enlisted in the Navy and in this role served as a radar ('direction and distance finder'). With the help of this sophisticated equipment, there is the ability to detect enemy forces, whose movement relies in part on the radar systems deployed within the country's borders. The radar is an electronic system that combines radio wave technology, communication, signal processing and computing.

As part of her role, Irit Emon was responsible for operating operations, software settings, testing and troubleshooting both the various means and the computer systems.

Physiotherapist

After her release from the IDF, Irit began her studies at the school of physical therapy at Assaf Harofeh Hospital, which is a home for training physical therapists, at a high professional level and at an international standard.
The basic curriculum includes the training of graduates in the study track for a graduate degree in physical therapy (BPT) lasting 4 years. Her studies took place on the campus of Tel Aviv University and at the school at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center.

At the end of her studies, she returned to life and began her work as a physiotherapist, first at the Rambam Hospital and later at the Pliman Geriatric-Rehabilitation Center.
In addition to physical therapy studies, she also studied creative arts at the University of Haifa and Eretz Yisrael studies and a master's degree in 'art history'.

Responsible for the subject of physiotherapy at Pliman Hospital

The Pliman Geriatric-Rehabilitation Center is a government rehabilitation center designed for the elderly population in the entire northern region.
This hospital serves as a medical center for geriatric rehabilitation and treatment of acute illnesses and provides high-quality and professional medical and nursing services, in combination with all complementary treatments, all in order to return the patients to the community, while reaching full function as possible.

The goal of physical therapy rehabilitation is to improve mobility and day-to-day functioning and return the patient to an independent and active life as much as possible - where the treatment includes exercises to strengthen muscles and improve range of motion, exercises to improve balance and coordination, breathing exercises and improving endurance, reducing pain by various means, walking exercises and adjusting accessories.
Until her retirement, Irit served as manager and responsible for the subject of physiotherapy in this center.

A strong need to draw and present the various difficulties and challenges

As responsible for the subject of physiotherapy in the physiotherapy department at Pliman Hospital, an Irish deal in several fields:

• Orthopedic rehabilitation: Patients in need of orthopedic rehabilitation come to the medical center after fractures and joint replacements.
• Neurological rehabilitation: when the patients who come are after a stroke or suffer from neurological diseases such as: Parkinson's, Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis.
• Rehabilitation of amputees: the patients who come to this department are after upper and lower limb amputations due to diabetes, vascular diseases, traumas and tumors.
• Rehabilitation after functional decline: Functional decline can be due to various reasons such as: prolonged hospitalization, prolonged fever, repeated falls and decline in cognitive status. These patients undergo a functional assessment and the treatment focuses on improving daily function and fitting auxiliary accessories.
• Respiratory rehabilitation - this is a long-term ventilation department: patients come from the various hospitals after long-term ventilation to continue breathing or for a ventilator weaning program.
• Irit managed the array of physiotherapists' teams and she herself provided answers to the patients.

She praises all the men and women of the various teams and gives them thanks on the one hand and on the other hand great appreciation for the patients and their families. At the same time, her experiences from there and her stay there, left in her soul a strong need to paint and present through her art, the various difficulties and challenges during the rehabilitation of her patients.

At the age of 60 she retired and since then she has been fulfilling her mission in plastic arts. She is a member of the 'Association of Painters and Sculptors in Israel' as well as the 'Amni Israel Metagadim' association.

Her partner is physically and mentally disabled by the IDF

Irit met Yona Peltz, the father of her three children, during the war of attrition. As was customary at the time, she came, along with other girls, to cheer up wounded soldiers at Rambam Hospital. Among these wounded was Yona Peltz, who after several years (1975) even became her husband and the father of her children.

During the war of attrition, when the winter sky was actually blue and deep, and the Hula valley was visible in green - on a street corner in an abandoned village there was a final IDF exercise in which several soldiers from the paratroopers were added to the same training force.

When everyone started moving the paratroopers opened fire. Then bombs hit the houses up the street with an explosive sound, raising plumes of smoke and dust... And then the training accident happened, in which his best friend Giora Hayman was killed next to him.

At the time of the shocking accident, Yona was present near El Giora, in a temporary position as a Regam assistant. The real cause of the accident was never known and this left Yona deeply frustrated. He was left with the feeling that "they said something about a faulty series of shells"... the shell exploded on exit, Giora took most of the damage and shrapnel that passed to his right hit the pigeon in his hand, leg and ears. He remains disabled in the IDF in body and soul.

The Israeli reality is difficult

Now the living reality is days of difficulty, in which it seems that all the citizens of Israel are to some extent in a battle shock.

From the holiday period of the year 2023, the entire country went straight into a time of war, the end of which is not around the corner, a period that is different from any operation or round of combat that preceded it.

This time the shock of the battle is group, popular. The shock of everyone who lives here and perceives now the event is terrifying, with sadistic tantrums of boundless violence.

The essence of the term 'battle shock'

Battle shock is the historical name of a mental reaction that in the last 40 years has been classified as: Post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD, or in Hebrew the shock. This phenomenon is at the focus of clinical research in psychology in recent years.

The disorder is developed by men and women who were exposed to events in which there was a threat to their lives, or existential danger to them and/or their relatives. Most cases of PTSD break out due to fighting in battle, natural disasters, loss, sexual abuse and terrorist attacks (but sometimes also in routine situations - in which there is an increase in the diagnosis of indirect or secondary traumatization).

In Israel, there are thousands of combat veterans recognized by the Ministry of Defense. However, according to estimates, a significant part of them are not officially recognized at all. The vast majority of PTSD victims are not employed. They find it difficult to withstand the pressure inherent in the recruitment process and they even rarely show up for job interviews.

'Alia and a thorn in her'

To a certain extent Jonah's fate improved him. With the help of the Ministry of Defense's rehabilitation department, he finished his studies at the Technion and was even accepted to work as a mechanical engineer at the Raphael Advanced Combat Systems Ltd. factory.

Although 'Alia and a thorn in her'. Although he was able to overcome his physical disability to some extent: Surfed the sea and sailed boats and even became a top table tennis player. Furthermore, in 2017 when he represented the 'Beit HaLochem Haifa Club' he even won the Israel Championship for the Disabled in the 'table tennis competition, standing men'.

However, during all these years, his mental disability persisted, increased and took over every good part.

Life in the shadow is hurt

Every year, on Memorial Day and Holocaust Day, many people in Israel relive the most difficult days of their lives. This, whether it is flashbacks from difficult battles in the war or sights that float and re-emerge from a terrorist attack.

Powerful traumatic experiences leave a mark on a person that never fades. Sometimes the victims of trauma, the people in their lives and their families feel as if not only their lives have changed but also their personalities.

Post-trauma is capable of turning a person who was active and functioning with joy into a person who is a kind of broken vessel, a closed and explosive person who tends to panic easily and lose his temper even in everyday situations.

Personality changes of this kind sometimes cause the victims of the trauma to distance themselves from their family members and the people who love them and even to be harmed both on the occupational level and on the marital level.

In professional language it is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and in fact, for the people who suffer from it, every day is a day of remembrance. A day of remembrance of the personal trauma.

Search "The King's Road"

Most of the symptoms described in these studies appeared in the life of the Peltz family. The private psychological treatments as well as those provided by the Ministry of Defense - did not always return Yona to the King's Way. Sometimes he sank into depression and sometimes even lost control.

The Peltz family went on a two-year sabbatical, as emissaries of the Rafael factory, once to Oregon and once to Florida (USA). Both of these times, while they were abroad, Yona's mental state got worse and worse. He was returned to Israel, when the second time he even needed hospitalization.

Over the course of 38 years (from the time she was about 24 to the age of 62), Irit tried with all her might to protect and preserve the marital union - 'and when water reached the soul' it was her children who urged her to 'unpack the package'.

Damages of the Corona period

Yona moved to Sabioni Dania, continued his activities at 'Beit HaLochem'. For about half a year he traveled the world in various regions. He even experienced an in-depth trip to the Galapagos Islands, known for the variety of species of endemic animals there, and in addition to that during the course of 3 years he had a partner.

The period of the Corona epidemic and the lockdowns, which caused him to be cut off from social life and his extensive activities at the 'Warrior House' (choir, painting class, theater class, swimming and support) - caused a further deterioration in Yona's mental state. In 2021 he could not continue his suffering and took his own life.

Art, wine, chocolate and culture event at her home which is also a gallery

Today Irit continues her life and even since her divorce she is in a happy relationship, and especially enjoys her three adult children, who are engaged in art in various fields - music, dance, photography and landscape architecture - her grandchildren and her many friends.

Last night, on the evening of 2.11.24/30/XNUMX, despite being a day of alarms in Haifa and the north, more than XNUMX visitors came to be impressed by the works of Irit Peltz. It was an intimate art evening at Ma'ona, a house that is also her gallery.

At the beginning of the first rain, instead of in the garden of the house - those who followed crowded in the wide living room. As an opening for the exhibition itself - Bita Roni Feld-Nadler, a dancer in the 'Orly Portal Company' (born in 81, lives in Beit Oren), danced sections from the piece "Rabia" with the special Persian music created by two Iranian artists, a father and son living in the United States. The essence of the work "Quarter" is the message that man must connect to the small light at the end.  

Dance, as a final ritual, about love and unity

The dance choreography of the work 'Rabia' was inspired by Rabia al-Adawiyah, who was a Sufi mystic from the eighth century AD.

The work presents the choreography of a Sufi ceremony about love and unity, to the sounds of Sufi Persian music dedicated to the poems of Jalal al-Din al-Rumi, the 13th century poet. The entire dance includes two parts, the first part focuses on the spiritual and folkloric aspect of love and the second is an encore for love.

In this artistic evening, Roni only danced two short pieces from this wonderful piece.

The painting 'The Contemporary Noah's Ark'

On the evening of November 2.11.24, 30, more than XNUMX visitors came to admire the works of Irit Peltz. It was an intimate artistic evening at her home, which is also her gallery.

Here are some things about the painting 'The Contemporary Noah's Ark': Noah's Ark is a huge wooden ark, which he built, according to the Bible, to rest at God's commandments, and in which he hid himself and his family, as well as pairs of all kinds of animals, from destruction during the flood that flooded all At the end of the flood, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat, and then the dove was supposed to arrive with an olive branch and bring a time of peace.

 In this work, the artist Irit Peltz yearns for the observer of the painting 'Contemporary Noah's Ark' to contain the rhetorical question: Has the time of the "dove with an olive leaf" really arrived long ago??? Was there a time of peace?? Is peace really 'peace now'???

Below is a lot link to YouTube where Irit Peltz talks about her painting 'The Contemporary Noah's Ark' - the flood, Noah's Ark and the dove of peace.

Her house in the "Red Roofs" area

The Peltz family home was purchased as a tiny house, but later underwent a massive renovation with the help of Hama Menachem-Mendel, father of the late Yona.

The house is in the area of ​​the Ramot Ramez neighborhood which used to be a 'Garden City'. Ramot Ramez's first houses were built along International Street and Hankin Road in a typical layout of two-story houses with red tiled roofs.

The old area was characterized by two-story buildings that were nicknamed 'the red roofs', because of the color of the tiled roofs. Some of the buildings were 'railway housing' which were built in the years of absorption of Romanian immigrants. After many renovations, Irit's house is now also used as a gallery for all her works.

In the living room: a piano and an extensive retrospective of her works

The extensive living space contains an extensive retrospective of her works, sort of: the exhibition of Irit's works over and over a long period of time.

In the middle of this space is the piano of her eldest son Ofer (born in '78), who is a musician, pianist and composer and currently serves as a professor at the University of Montreal-Canada.

Among the many paintings in the space of the room, we can see Irit's favorite painting and it is the image of the late Hama Saba Menachem-Mendel who, as mentioned, actually being a building contractor helped a lot in the renovation of the house.

'Poland Room'

In Irit's house there are many lovely corners, where without any doubt a place of honor is given to her three adult children and her young grandchildren, and therefore there is a room entirely dedicated to photographs of the family members. For some reason she calls this place the 'Poland room', probably because, according to her, in many families of Polish origin it was customary to display many photographs of the 'members of the tribe'.

Her family members, her parents, children and grandchildren are displayed on the walls of the room. The room itself radiates from its walls warmth and love that envelop the observer in a warm and sympathetic embrace.

As mentioned, all three of her adult children are engaged in art. Here in this room, in addition to her son Ofer and her house Roni, we can also see her younger son Doron (born in 1989) who lives in the settlement of 'Khalil' in a building called a 'yurt' (or yurt which literally means: house).

A yurt is a type of traditional tent used by several different nomadic groups in the steppes of Central Asia. The yurt is usually made out of wool or fur which covers a wooden frame. Doron is a water engineer, responsible for the entire water system in 'Khalil' and even teaches at a preparatory school in the Jezreel Valley, he is also a photographer and garden architect.

The kitchen wizard

As for Irit, the kitchen is the heart of the home... she describes herself as an 'excellent cook'. Irit is a vegan and therefore in her lifestyle she maintains the avoidance of using animals for food, clothing, entertainment, or any other purpose that is not direct survival. From a nutritional point of view, this lifestyle is expressed in the deliberate avoidance of all animal food such as animal meat, dairy products, eggs and honey.

But Da Aka (that's the trouble), according to her, here lies the problem, that if she hadn't been vegan - she could have picked a place and a respectable title in the 'Master Chef' program...

In the kitchen there are many decorations and ornaments that testify to the importance of this area.

A designed stand and an old fashioned bottle of wine

Among the many unique items, photographs, sculptures, paintings and decorations - Irit has a warm place in her heart for a certain souvenir that reminds her of her dear parents.

In the hallway leading from the living room area to the rooms, in a place of honor, is a decorated copper stand with an old, worn wine bottle, which her parents brought from abroad on one of their many trips.

On top of the glass of the bottle there is a sticker of the label of the winery and it bears the names of her parents: 'Carmon Ilana and Gedi'.

As a memorial and homage to her family's heritage - the designed stand and the wine bottle are in the vicinity of Irit's works and creations.

A book that is the basis for a registration course

In one of the many libraries that exist in Irit's residence - there is the book that opened the door for her to the world of painting and drawing.

This is a drawing art textbook that was in her parents' library. This is a training book in the format of a basic drawing course that aims to teach the basics of drawing the human body.

As old things get old, the cover of this book is a little worn. Despite this, with sparkling eyes Irit looks at the defects of the cover and with a soft hand she caresses its hem. She opens page after page and as a trusted teacher explains different stages that discuss the registration of the human body.

Along with the precision of the drawing, Irit is close to and loves the post-impressionism movement. This is a movement in art that took place at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century and included artists whose style was different from that of the Impressionists, and not uniform. The meaning of this concept is 'after Impressionism', and it describes the French modern art that came immediately after Impressionism and as a response to Impressionism.

Among the artists most appreciated by her are: Vincent Willem van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Cezanne.

Colorful and optimistic wings

Due to the events of her life, Irit understands that she will not be able to correct all the wrongs of the world, but she lives with full optimism and hopes that the future will be better.

Therefore, she "doesn't cry at all about what happened in the past", but lives her life day by day, considering "Kay sera sera" - whatever will happen... and I hope it will be good.

Irit "grew herself colorful wings" with the help of which she tries to continue to create, paint and live.

In her vision she hopes that even in the distant future her works will be preserved and will continue to be a memory of the many things she saw in this world and were engraved in her soul.