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Center to provide Nova Music Festival massacre recovery, support and remembrance
Netanya, Israel (Feb. 24, 2025) – UJA-Federation of New York, in partnership with the Tribe of Nova Association, has announced a permanent community center for Nova community members and survivors near Netanya. The new “UJA New York Nova House,” expected to open before the end of 2025, is funded through private philanthropy.
Located at Ya`ar Ha'ilanot, just east of Netanya, between Highways 2 and 4 near the Netanya railway station, the house will serve as a vibrant hub for survivors, members of Nova’s bereaved families, and their families, as well as for the broader public. This 10-million-shekel project, primarily funded by UJA-Federation of New York donors, will include a variety of services and programs aimed at helping the community rebuild. It will offer long-term recovery, sports, cultural activities, workforce development, and many other activities, benefiting an estimated 3,500 survivors and 2,500 immediate bereaved family members of the 411 lost loved ones, and in total, over 10,000 community members.
The UJA New York Nova House will offer:
• Community anchor and enrichment and empowerment programs – therapy workshops, seminars, and a variety of programs designed to provide emotional and social support, including a unique mentoring companionship initiative.
• Training workshops – skill-building workshops to help community members thrive.
• Community recovery activities –cultural events, sports, dance, film, theater and social gatherings to aid in emotional recovery.
• Access to treatment – various forms of therapy and first aid support.
• Education and Commemoration Center – memorial exhibitions and memorials, open to host groups from Israel and around the world.
“It fills my heart to know that we, as a community of Nova survivors, will have a place to be anytime we are having a rough day or week, or want to volunteer and give back, and have consistency for a place of healing, learning and gaining coping tools,” said Rita Wonder, a 35-year-old mother of a 4-year-old child from Haifa, who survived the Nova festival. “I am sure the location will be a place of strength, where we help each other through the worst and celebrate the best to come.”
This project is being developed in partnership with Alin Beit Noam, an organization with expertise in providing therapies and support for individuals with disabilities and special needs. They are establishing The Neighborhood of Unlimited Possibilities: A Utopia of Inclusivity for Humanity, a groundbreaking new center that unites individuals with and without disabilities, with various forms of trauma, fostering a comprehensive and inclusive society. The whole community is partnering with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
"The UJA New York Nova House stands as a powerful symbol of hope, resilience and the enduring strength of the Nova community. True to the Nova slogan, 'We will dance again,' this House will provide opportunities for the community to heal and grow together," said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York.
"The lack of a permanent location has limited our ability to expand our activities. Since October 2023, we have operated in temporary spaces, but a permanent House is crucial for the long-term healing and recovery of our Nova survivors. This center will provide a safe, flexible space that will grow with the community and allow us to support each other through every stage of this process," said Reef Perez, Chairman of the Tribe of Nova Organization.
For more information, go to the Tribe of Nova Foundation at https://www.tribeofnova.com.
