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

ByMAARIV, JERUSALEM POST STAFFNOVEMBER 2, 2026 17:57

International singer Boy George met with President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday during his visit to Israel.

Also present at the event were Sylvan Adams, President of World Jewish Congress Israel and a member of the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem's board of directors, and former Gaza hostage Elkana Bohbot.

"In the three years since October 7, Israel and Jews around the world have faced an onslaught of attacks," Herzog said, thanking Boy George for his public support for the Jewish people and Israel. "In the worlds of culture, art, and music, which ought to bring people together, we have seen a particular strain of discrimination against Israelis and Jews run rampant."

"However, you stood up and said: ‘If you’re ever confused, I stand with the Jews. I don't feel brave, I just need to behave like a human.’ It was this simple yet profound message of moral clarity and decency in your song ‘We Will Dance Again’ that touched the hearts of Jews and Israelis everywhere.”

Responding, Boy George said his song, "We Will Dance Again," has "forced him to grow up."

'The old Boy George no longer exists'

“In some ways, the old Boy George no longer exists, because some people don’t see me in the way they used to, and a lot of other people see me in a new way," he said. "I like that. I feel like ‘We Will Dance Again’ has forced me to grow up. This experience has made me much more aware of what is out there emotionally and what challenges us.”

Adams also thanked Boy George for his support of the Jewish people.

“George, you aren’t Jewish, but the Jewish people are facing this wall of hatred, this organized wall of hatred. When we are attacked, we have no choice but to fight back," Adams said. "You, on the other hand, have chosen to engage in this moral campaign against the haters, and for this we are eternally grateful. We are delighted by your moving song and equally delighted by your visit. Keep singing ‘We Will Dance Again,’ and come back and visit us as often as you like.”

“For me, these words are not just the title of a song," Bohbot added. "They are life itself."

"I was kidnapped from the Nova festival, a place where people came to celebrate life and music. They tried to take away our freedom, but they will not take away our spirit. Today, after 738 days in captivity, I stand here free. Boy George, thank you for your friendship and for choosing to bring your music to Israel."

"On this occasion, I want to tell you: yes, we will dance again," Bohbot said.

Boy George visits Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem

Boy George also visited the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, where he toured the exhibition "06:29 - From Darkness to Light," which documents the events of October 7 and the scale of the tragedy, alongside stories of heroism, rescue efforts, and solidarity within Israeli society.

Jonathan Riss, the museum's CEO, and Adams led the tour. Sigal Mansouri, whose daughters Norelle and Roya were murdered at the Nova music festival, also took part.

The exhibition takes visitors through the atrocities of October 7 while highlighting stories of hope and solidarity that emerged in the aftermath of the attacks.

Through photographs, including images captured by photographer Ziv Koren, and personal testimonies from more than 40 women displayed on large screens, visitors hear firsthand accounts from those who experienced the events.

Since October 7, the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem has served as a gathering place for hostages and their families, providing a platform for their voices to be heard. The exhibition has attracted leaders, public figures, and influencers from around the world, who have viewed testimonies and documentation of the attacks and expressed their commitment to the message of "Never Again."

“What you hear in the exhibition can sound almost otherworldly, and yet it is presented in such a matter-of-fact and simple way that it gives you a real sense of humanity, and that is so important, because so much of that human feeling is being lost," Boy George said. "It seems that people don't have time for it. They have time for gossip, but not for anything of real substance. A place like this gives you an opportunity to stop and focus on the real sadness of these stories.”

“Behind every photograph and every testimony are lives that were cut short, families that were destroyed, and women who carry stories that are difficult to hear, but that we must never stop telling," Riss said.

"In the face of attempts to obscure the atrocities, deny the facts, and erase the memory of the victims, our responsibility is to continue exposing the truth."

"The visit by Boy George, an artist with international influence, is an opportunity to bring these voices to additional audiences around the world," Riss added. "The Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem will continue to be the place where testimonies are heard, memory is preserved, and the truth is not silenced.”

Boy George's connection to the Nova community began when he visited the Nova 06:29 exhibition in London, where he heard the stories of survivors and bereaved families.

The testimonies and personal encounters left a lasting impression on him. He later released the song "We Will Dance Again,” accompanied by photographs of young people murdered at the festival.

He recently announced that his second performance in Israel, scheduled for November 7, would be dedicated to the Nova community.

Boy George's visit to Israel was organized at the initiative of Adams, who also hosted the singer. The visit was coordinated with Live Nation Israel representatives Guy Besser and Shay Mor Yosef, with the participation of the Foreign Ministry.

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