בין אבל אישי וציבורי: תופעת ההנצחה באמצעות סטיקרים במלחמת חרבות ברזל

Background: Stickers have been used for decades as a tool for conveying social, political, and cultural messages in Israel and around the world. In Israel, they have become a prominent means of commemoration and expression of collective memory following the events of October 7, 2023. Aims: To examine the phenomenon of memorial stickers that have appeared in the Israeli public sphere since October 7, analyzing their visual, textual, and spatial aspects, and how they reflect personal and public elements in Israeli collective mourning. Method: A qualitative research study was conducted, based on an ethnographic approach to texts and visual content analysis, using an inductive approach where findings and themes were built from the specific to the general. Findings: Stickers reflect meanings that move between private and public spaces in three different dimensions: the spaces where they are placed, their textual choices, and their visual design. Analysis reveals diverse personal and national expressions—some focusing on personal memory of the fallen, others reflecting national narratives and state symbols. Conclusions and implications for practice: Stickers function not merely as private commemorative acts, but as integral components of a comprehensive practice of collective memory construction and memorialization that maintains significant spatial presence and shapes public discourse surrounding mourning.The study proposes practical applications, including the development of organizational and institutional frameworks for both physical and virtual commemoration, while preserving the spontaneous character of the phenomenon. Specialized training programs for social workers should be incorporated, and stickers implemented as therapeutic instruments across individual, group, and community intervention levels.