Just after sunrise on Oct. 7, 2023, Ron Segev, who was among the crowd at the Nova Music Festival, near Kibbutz Re’im, Israel, looked up at the sky, and saw rockets headed toward him. The festival’s music abruptly shut off, and was soon replaced by the sound of gunshots, screams and the shrieks of sirens. Segev’s next 24 hours were unforgettable, and, he says now, the rest of his life will never be the same.
Just over two years later, Segev, 39, offered a riveting firsthand account of his experiences as a survivor of the Oct. 7 attacks at a commemoration last Sunday at the Israel Chesed Center in Lawrence.
Segev, who is originally from Tel Aviv, spoke of the many “miracles” that not only made it possible for him to escape from the festival, but also helped him saved lives in the process. After making his way from the festival grounds, he managed to evade the gunfire of Hamas terrorists and found refuge in an abandoned, running car, in which he escaped with his brother and 11 other people.
“This pain is still very fresh, and the healing is just the first step,” Segev said. “We still have a long way to go, and that’s why it’s important to understand what’s going on in Israel.”
Segev is one of over 3,450 survivors of the Nova Festival, each with their own account of what happened that day. “There are thousands of stories like these that need to be told, and people need to keep hearing them,” Jeff Eisenberg, the Chesed Center’s co-founder, said.
More than 100 Five Towns residents attended the event, held in conjunction with the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, in Cedarhurst. They listened to Segev’s story and prayed for those who died.
“To see the amount of people that came out to commemorate the event that occurred and hear (Segev’s) story, I think it’s a testament to the spirit and approach of our community,” said Robert L. Douglas, of Woodmere.
“I thought he spoke very eloquently, and he truly spoke from the heart,” added Ari Wallach, of Cedarhurst.
Students from local high schools lit candles in remembrance of the lives lost both on Oct. 7 and in the war in Gaza that followed.
“I think it’s important to expose stories like mine to the youth, especially in the age of the Internet, where they could find things out themselves,” Segev said. “In sharing my story, at least they hear a testimony from someone that was really there, in the moment.”
His account helped the students understand the gravity of what occurred. “The reality is, you can’t wake up later on in life and just then realize that this is how life is,” Eisenberg said. “Learning about these parts of history is something that can shape you, with memories you carry around and remember for life.”
Segev also spoke of “invisible” issues that continue to affect many Nova Festival survivors. He described symptoms of trauma that many of them share, including disbelief, denial, anxiety, shame and guilt. He described his own post-traumatic stress disorder, restlessness, and related issues that make it impossible for him to sleep for more than a few hours each night.
He commended an Israeli mental health organization, SafeHeart, which offers support and therapy to survivors of the attacks.
“I think it’s important for people to not only hear about my story, but to also learn about organizations like SafeHeart, and ask how to assist,” Segev added. “We’re a very small part of this world, the Jewish people, and we have to stick together and help one another.”
For Segev, retelling — and reliving — his experience can be difficult, but it also allows gives him the chance to help those who need it. “Now I try to do things not only for myself, but also for others,” he said. “I’ve been going around America, sharing my testimony and raising donations. In doing that, I feel I’m doing something that is great, something that is larger than just me — and it’s helped me heal.”
