Nova Party Survivor Returns to Festival Site to Confront Trauma
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Nova party survivor Rita Yadid has returned to the Re'im festival grounds multiple times to process her trauma and share her story. She survived the October 7th attack by hiding for hours under fire and later being looted. Yadid now lectures on trauma recovery, finding her experience strengthens others, and her journey is documented in a film titled "Rita."
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rita Yadid, a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre, has repeatedly returned to the Re'im site to confront her trauma.
- She hid for hours under fire during the October 7th attack and was later confronted by a looter.
- Yadid is now dedicated to sharing her story and lecturing on trauma recovery and motivation.
- Her healing journey and post-attack transformation are documented in a private film titled "Rita."
- The film aims to inspire and strengthen individuals and communities facing crisis and trauma.
Rita Yadid, who survived the Nova music festival massacre on October 7th after hiding under fire for hours, has repeatedly returned to the festival grounds in Re'im. Three years after the attack, she is sharing her healing journey and how her life has been completely altered since the Hamas assault.
Yadid recounted arriving at the festival with her husband and sister. They initially stayed behind when alarms sounded, believing it safer than being on the roads during missile attacks, unaware of the approaching terrorists. The situation became clear as wounded individuals began arriving, and they realized they were surrounded.
She described hiding in a caravan with other wounded and terrified people, hearing and feeling the terrorists nearby. At one point, a Gazan looter entered, demanding money and phones. After they threw their belongings out the window and pleaded for their lives, he left. Yadid recalled texting loved ones, feeling forgotten and fearing they would not be rescued. She fell asleep and awoke around 2 p.m. to the sounds of approaching IDF soldiers, whom she alerted to their presence.
Since her survival, Yadid has visited the festival site dozens of times, sharing her story as part of her healing process and to ensure the events are not forgotten. She also worked with her therapist to address survivor's guilt. Initially a property manager, Yadid now dedicates her life to giving lectures on trauma recovery and motivation, inspired by feedback that her story strengthens others.
Her journey is documented in a private film titled "Rita," produced with a director and cinematographer. Premiering last May, the film aims to inspire and strengthen individuals and communities facing crisis and trauma, encouraging growth from traumatic experiences.
