As the massacre began, amongst the chaos around us, I froze to the sight of two girls – their bodies ridden with bullets. In that second I understood the gravity of the situation we were in.
By 8am, I was hiding with five others; my sister Eden, my husband Guy, and three more festival goers. At 12pm, I surrendered. I stopped believing we would make it. Guy had been shot three times and was bleeding, lying on top of me, using himself as a shield.
I was shaking and silent.
At 2pm, the soldiers came to our rescue. I called my mother and screamed, “I am alive.” Outside, the world was unrecognizable. Bodies were everywhere.
That day split my life into two: before and after.
Since then, I’ve been learning how to live again. The guilt of surviving never fully fades but every day, I try to find a little strength, a little light. I’ve been healing one breath at a time—through pain, through purpose, through love. It has been nearly two years, and I am still on this journey.
By sharing my experience, re-visiting the site of the festival and connecting with communities from around the world, I gain the power to keep going with intention—not just for myself, but for those who cannot –
Rita Yedid
Hi, I’m Rita Yedid, a wife, mother, survivor, speaker, and advocate for resilience and hope. On October 7th, my life changed forever when I survived the attack at the Nova Festival alongside my husband and sister. In the face of unimaginable fear and chaos, I discovered a strength I never knew I had—a strength that now fuels my mission to inspire others.Sharing my story hasn’t just helped others—it has helped me heal and grow. Through speaking, I’ve found my voice, transformed my pain into purpose, and connected with people on a deeper level. My journey has shown me that even in our darkest moments, there is light, and even after survival, there is room to thrive.
A 1.5 Hour Immersive Journey of Survival, Loss, and the Will to Live
I take you back to the grounds of the Nova Music Festival—where joy turned to terror. From the moment I arrived, through the hours I lay hidden beneath my husband as bullets rained down on us, to the moment I was rescued by the IDF, you will walk with me through the horror, heartbreak, and unimaginable fear.
This is the story of what it means to survive a massacre. To feel your life slipping away—and still choose to hold on. I share how I found the strength to surrender to fear, the courage to face unbearable pain, and—against all odds—the path to healing, right at the place where I nearly lost my life.
I visit companies and organizations across Israel to share my personal story of surviving the October 7th Nova Music Festival massacre.
Through a powerful and honest talk—alongside a visual presentation—I guide teams through my experience, helping them process their own trauma, whether directly or indirectly impacted by the events of October 7th and the ongoing war.
These sessions foster empathy, resilience, and meaningful dialogue in the workplace, creating space for healing and human connection.
I travel the world with one mission: to speak the truth of what happened at the Nova Music Festival—and to turn pain into purpose.
From North America to the United Nations, I share my story to raise awareness about trauma, fight antisemitism, and stand proudly in my identity as a Jewish Israeli woman. I speak not only for myself, but for an entire generation processing unthinkable violence, loss, and resilience.
I connect with Jewish communities, allies, university students, synagogues, and community centers—bringing a message of healing, strength, and unity. Through every talk, I carry the spirit of Nova: joy, music, and connection. I invite fellow festival lovers, of all backgrounds, to listen with open hearts as we build bridges, reclaim our narrative, and move forward—together.
