Israel’s Tribe of Nova Festival Survivors Seek Solace Through Therapy After Heartbreaking Massacre

Einat Haimovich opens a shelter for survivors to cope with post-traumatic stress after the Hamas attack at the Tribe of Nova festival.

It has been a heartbreaking couple of weeks for many communities through the massacre of Israel’s Tribe of Nova festival, an Israeli edition of the Brazilian psytrance festival Universo Paralellol. A beautiful weekend that festivalgoers described as the best festival they had been to, turned out to be the country’s worst terrorist attack. 

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the terrorist organization Hamas ambushed the psychedelic trance festival Tribe of Nova, forcing civilians to run for their lives. Unfortunately, and with the deepest of condolences, hundreds of young people’s lives were taken away in the one place many of us thought would remain safe: music festivals.

Since the attack, well-hearted humans such as Einat Haimovich and Iftach Shahar have opened their hearts to create a shelter for survivors to help them ground themselves in reality. The refuge, located in a moshav, a cooperative farmer’s village south of Tel Aviv, is set up to be simple, but accommodating of a low-stimulation haven that helps victims of post-traumatic stress disorder start the healing process.

Although psychedelics are not legal in Israel, Shahar and Haimovich incorporate preparation and integration into their practice. Haimovich has been caring for and holding space for victims of post-traumatic disorder with the help of volunteers who welcome victims and use their tools and techniques.

Volunteers such as Tal Weiss Sade concentrate their perspective on the body. The dedicated volunteer integrates Tibetan sound bowls and sand-filled cushions that they place on the body during their meditation sessions. The shelter is persevering to lower anxiety levels and supply tools to survivors on how to cope with reality,

Haimovich remains optimistic that Israel can overcome this trauma with the belief that all of us are one. Our hearts are with you all, brothers and sisters. You are me, and I am you, we are one.