One year on, bereaved gather in Tel Aviv to honor Nova festival dead

A large crowd has gathered at a Tel Aviv event hall for an official memorial ceremony for bereaved families who lost loved ones at the Supernova festival massacre on October 7, 2023.

The event, organized by the Tribe of Nova Community Association, aims to “strengthen and honor the bereaved families” by “commemorating the memory the 410 men and women murdered during the Nova massacre and nearby parties” on October 7, organizers say.

“Time flies, I don’t believe it’s been a year. It’s like a dream I want to wake up from,” says Ofri Rahum, speaking to The Times of Israel before the event is to begin. Rahum’s sister, who was four months pregnant, her sister’s fiancé, and Rahum’s uncle were all killed at the Nova party.

The memorial evening at Hangar 11, a popular hall at the Tel Aviv port, one of dozens this week marking one year since the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel.

The ceremony is slated to feature a collective Yizkor prayer for the fallen, speeches by family members, short performances by several musical artists and an art instillation dedicated to their memory.

“It’s as if they went on a trip, and we are waiting for them to come back,” Rahum says. “All the families are here, that’s very important. It’s good for the heart, a bit.”