Surviving the Nova Massacre: One Man's Story of Loss and Resilience

Three years after the October 7 Hamas massacre, Barak Isaac, a 38-year-old from Jerusalem, recounts his survival from the Nova music festival, where he lost several of his closest friends. Isaac, who ran a sound and production business and had deep ties to the festival organizers, arrived at the event in the early hours of October 7 with a group of friends, including twins Oshar and Michael Vaknin, and Jonathan Azulai.

As rocket fire began and the music stopped, the group attempted to flee, eventually taking shelter in a roadside bomb shelter near Kibbutz Alumim. Soon after, terrorists attacked the shelter, throwing grenades inside. Isaac survived two miraculous escapes: one grenade failed to detonate near his leg, and as he briefly stepped outside to breathe and encountered terrorists, one of their weapons jammed. Seizing the moment, Isaac fled into a nearby field, hiding under tree branches for hours amidst ongoing gunfire.

During the ordeal, his friend Eli-H Cohen remained in another shelter—later identified as the one where IDF hero Aner Shapira hurled back grenades—before being abducted to Gaza. Other close friends, including Jonathan, Oshar, and Michael, were killed in the attacks. Isaac eventually reached a nearby gas station where he encountered security forces, later walking miles to Netivot.

In the years following the massacre, Isaac has struggled with physical injuries, including severe hearing loss requiring hearing aids, and ongoing psychological trauma. Despite these challenges, he has returned to work at Jerusalem-based Lightricks, welcomed a newborn child, and dedicated himself to supporting the families of his fallen friends and advocating for hostages. Sharing his story through public lectures, Isaac emphasizes gratitude, resilience, and cherishing life's most meaningful connections.