Day 3 – January 28, 2026

On our full first day in Israel, we traveled to the south to visit communities impacted by the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, including to the Nova Festival site.  I know many of us visited the Nova Exhibition in Chicago this year, which was certainly powerful. But, for me, it pales in comparison to standing on the very grounds where the massacre took place. I’ve been to Nova before, but never in January, when the red poppy anemones were in bloom. These flowers, known in Hebrew as kalaniot are bright red flowers ubiquitous in southern Israel. They have always been a symbol of this region, but since October 7, their significance has only grown. The kalaniot represent rebirth, resilience, and strength — the very qualities associated with the Israeli spirit – and the survivors of Nova specifically. Today, kalaniot sculptures dot the Nova memorial area, interspersed with the genuine article.  

 

Our group met with Ariel, a survivor of the attack. She described her emotional journey, not just on that terrible day as she evaded terrorists, but in the two years since. As a survivor, Ariel navigated shock, guilt, heartbreak, depression, and now, finally, hope. Today, she is going to university and starting to share her story. Like the kalanit, Ariel is starting to bloom again, just like Israel itself.