Holocaust Survivor Sheltered Nova Party Survivors, Refusing to Flee Again
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Lala Levy, a survivor of the Nova music festival attack, found refuge with Sarah Jackson, a Holocaust survivor, at her home on Kibbutz Sa'ad on October 7. Jackson, who had previously fled her home during the Holocaust, refused to evacuate again when Levy and other survivors arrived. The two women have since formed a close bond, with Levy emphasizing the importance of Jackson's act of kindness amidst the terror. The Nova Tribe Community Association supports such connections as part of their efforts to aid survivors.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Holocaust survivor Sarah Jackson sheltered Nova party attack survivors at her Kibbutz Sa'ad home on October 7.
- Jackson, who had fled her home during the Holocaust, refused to evacuate again during the attack.
- Lala Levy, a Nova party survivor, decided not to fully inform Jackson of the ongoing violence to avoid re-traumatizing her.
- Levy and Jackson have maintained a strong bond since the attack, with Levy wanting Jackson to be part of her life.
- The Nova Tribe Community Association supports these connections between survivors and rescuers.
Lala Levy, a 30-year-old from Rishon LeZion, was working at the Nova music festival on October 7 when the Hamas attack began. She and her friends initially sought shelter in a fortified room after witnessing rocket fire and then came under direct attack while trying to flee in a car. After encountering cyclists who warned them of further ambushes, they eventually reached Kibbutz Sa'ad.
There, they were offered refuge by Sarah Jackson, a Holocaust survivor who had lived in the kibbutz for over six decades. Jackson, who had been preparing for a holiday prayer service and was unaware of the full extent of the events due to the holiday, heard alarms and saw young people entering the kibbutz. Levy recounted how Jackson saw their group and offered them entry into her home, which they entered into her safe room due to nearby explosions.
While Jackson, unaware of the scale of the massacre, offered food and drink and shared stories of her own past, including her family's exile to Siberia during WWII, Levy and others realized Jackson was a Holocaust survivor. They decided not to share the full extent of the ongoing violence with her to avoid re-traumatizing her. When asked to evacuate the area later, Jackson refused, stating, "I evacuated my home once. I am not evacuating it again."
Levy eventually left Sa'ad with part of her group, but she and Jackson have maintained a strong bond since the event. Levy expressed a desire for Jackson to be a part of her life, and they have kept in touch, with Levy attending family gatherings. Rif Peretz, CEO of the Nova Tribe Community Association, highlighted the powerful connection between survivors and their rescuers, emphasizing gratitude, closure, and hope, and the association's commitment to supporting survivors' stories and recovery.
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