Thousands attend annual Nova Healing Concert in Tel Aviv, in memory of Oct. 7 rave massacre

The second annual Nova Healing Concert kicks off in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, drawing thousands in a powerful show of resilience and remembrance.

Organized by the Nova Tribe Community Association — a community formed to support survivors of the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre at the Re’im-area Nova rave, as well as bereaved families of the over 360 victims — the event marks nearly two years since the deadliest single day in Israel’s history, in which some 1,200 were killed in total in the attack on southern Israel and 251 were taken hostage.

Israeli artists, including Infected Mushroom, Yuval Raphael and Captain Hook, are performing, joined by survivors of the October 2023 festival.

For many, the gathering is as much about healing as it is about music. Survivor Joy Cohen tells The Times of Israel that events like this are an essential part of the grieving process.

“It makes me feel very hopeful,” she says. “Everyone who has gone through the worst of the worst can come together and share light.”

“And most importantly,” she adds, echoing the Nova community’s motto, “we will dance again.”