I finally made it to the Nova Festival exhibition today, on its very last day.
I wanted to go sooner, but the truth is, my anxiety kept holding me back. It does that often, even for things that are important to me. Thankfully, though, the regret of not going became a far greater force, which allowed me to push through, and I’m so glad I did. So, too, was Rich.
I’m still processing the weight of today, in the most raw and powerful and healing way.
What I witnessed today will stay with me forever. The pain and unbearable loss of so many innocent lives stolen. The music that was silenced. The joy that was taken in an instant. The sheer disregard for human life. The terror. It is pure evil.
What I witnessed today as well as we walked through the exhibit, reading every story, seeing every photograph and memory of those who didn’t survive, seeing every item on display from the festival, watching every video recorded in real time, and hearing every voice of those who survived that tragic day was a tribute to humanity, resilience, strength, courage, community, a place of shared values, and a light in the darkness – giving hope that we will dance again.
We also got to hear another live testimonial, too by one of the many remarkable festival survivors. Her story was both heartbreaking and inspiring. I was mesmerized by her bravery, her strength, and her beauty. Getting to meet her afterward and giving her a big hug was such an honour.
This exhibit was “a sacred space of grief, remembrance, and strength.” As heart-wrenching as it was, the truth must be told. The denial must be stopped. We owe it to the victims, to the survivors, and to our future as Jews to continue sharing their stories around the world.
Never again is now.
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YouAreEnough 