Nova Festival Site Hosts Religious Celebrations Amid Outcry

Hostage survivors Sherdi Cooperstein and Avitar David participated in religious "Hakafot Shniyot" (second circuit dances) at the Nova festival site in Re'im on Saturday night, being lifted by attendees during the dancing. They joined families of the fallen, soldiers, and residents of the Gaza border region amidst controversy over holding Simchat Torah events at the memorial site.

Earlier on Saturday, dancing was filmed near the "Poppies" exhibit at the site, sparking protests from bereaved parents. Yoram Yehudai, father of Ron, who was murdered at Nova, protested after arriving to tend to his son's memorial, and Eran Litman, father of Oriya Litman Ricardo, overturned a refreshment table. These incidents preceded the evening's Hakafot Shniyot; there is no information that Cooperstein and David participated in them.

KKL-JNF had announced before the holiday that it would not permit organized activities at the site not related to remembrance and solemn reflection. The dispute over the celebrations also drew sharp reactions online. Nava Rozolio wrote, "Dancing on the blood of the murdered," and Michal Pe'ilan commented, "It's crazy that they've turned Judaism into the religion of 'despite everything.'" Ilan Loeukach used the moniker "death eaters."

Conversely, media personality Yinon Magal argued for differential treatment of religious ceremonies, stating, "When Skazi brought a sound system and broadcast from Nova, there was no problem, but here, when it's religious ceremonies, they object, and KKL-JNF didn't allow it, and there was a general outcry from families not to hold the ceremonies." The "Simchat Torah in Re'im" events are being held for the third year, with Kobi Samarno, father of Yonatan Samarno, who was murdered and abducted to Gaza, among the organizers. While some families opposed the celebrations, others viewed them as an expression of continuity and revival. Samarno explained before the event, "Where the music stopped, we continue with song, prayer, and Hakafot."