Nova Festival Victim's Mother Fights Historical Oblivion

Ayelet Podor, mother of Maya Podor who was murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7th, has launched an initiative to combat the erasure of victims' stories. Driven by a desire to understand the events and counter what she perceived as a dismissive narrative of "drunken, drugged youth," Podor established "Re'im LaDerech" (Friends on the Road). This project aims to share the personal narratives of those killed and injured at the Nova, Psy-Trance, and Mushroom festivals, as well as the support crews present that weekend. The Nova festival alone saw 414 people killed and approximately 3,500 injured, according to the Nova Community Association.

Podor, who lives in Zichron Yaakov, visited the Nova site shortly after her daughter's death. She was angered by a guide's comment that the victims were "drunk and drugged youth, that's why they didn't escape," which she felt ignored the values and people who attended the events. Her initiative has expanded to include training for tour guides and workshops for parents of victims, with participation from experts in outdoor festivals, survivors, and ZAKA volunteers. Podor herself led over a hundred tours before taking a break and is involved in developing a memorial space at the festival site.

She emphasizes that the tours are not for children, with participants ranging from 16 to 73 years old, including soldiers, students, and professionals. Podor deliberately focuses on Maya's life, her positivity, intelligence, and humor, rather than the details of her death. She stresses the importance of understanding "what we lost", the vibrant lives and potential of the victims who contributed to society.

Three years later, Podor describes living in two parallel worlds, with the passage of time failing to alleviate the grief. She notes that the loss intensifies, impacting her and her husband Avi's memory and ability to focus on daily life. Their other daughters, Elia and Lali, have also been affected, with Elia changing her career path and Lali still serving in the military. Podor expresses anger at the systems that failed to protect her eldest daughter, stating, "There were soldiers, but there was no army; there were police officers, but there was no police."

Podor and her husband Avi are advocating for a comprehensive state investigation into the events of October 7th, believing it is crucial for national memory and to prevent future tragedies. While Ayelet prioritizes the investigation's authority and effectiveness, Avi hopes it will expose strategic failures and hold accountable those who neglected their duties. They also actively work to preserve the physical memory of the events, opposing the removal of the remaining protective structures along Route 232, which they see as vital reminders for future generations.