September 12th 2024.
The Nova Music Festival was a highly anticipated event for Moran Stella Yanai. She saw it as the perfect opportunity to showcase and sell her jewelry in Israel. However, things took a terrifying turn when she became a victim of abduction by Hamas terrorists during the festival. Instead of being the start of her success, it became a nightmare that lasted for 54 days. It is important to note that Hamas has been officially recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, and the European Union.
Yanai's story is one of the few that has been shared publicly by a hostage. She bravely spoke about her experience to a crowd of almost 200 people at the BMH-BJ Congregation in Denver. According to the organizers from Chabad of South Denver, she is the first to do so in Colorado. Yanai was among the 250 people who were taken hostage during the attack, which resulted in the death of around 1,200 individuals and sparked the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Although she has been released, there are still about 100 people who remain captive, and some of them are feared to have lost their lives.
According to estimates from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the war has resulted in the death of more than 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza. This number includes both combatant and civilian casualties. Yanai's experience at the Nova Music Festival was her first, and she remembers admiring the sunrise before chaos erupted. Rockets were fired over the event, and people were running and screaming in all directions. Yanai recalls feeling unsure of what to do, as some were dancing, some were laughing, and some were walking.
In the midst of the chaos, Yanai tried to escape and ran for five hours before she fell from a tree and broke her leg. It was at this point that she was captured by Hamas and taken to seven different houses over the course of 54 days. The constant bombardment caused her to lose half of her hearing, and she suffered physical and emotional abuse. She was not given enough food and was not allowed to leave her mattress or speak. Despite all of this, Yanai focused on survival and looked for signs of hope and faith to keep her going.
Yanai shared that even in the depths of hell, she was able to see the good in people. She also learned how strong she truly is, along with other women. Her message to the audience was to do whatever they can to bring home the remaining hostages and to prevent similar situations from happening in the future. She reminded them that they all have a responsibility and a choice to make in shaping the world their children will inherit. Rabbi Avraham Mintz of the Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver also addressed the crowd, stressing the importance of bringing an end to the pain and suffering caused by the ongoing war.
The audience listened intently to Yanai's story and were moved by her bravery and resilience. Her words serve as a reminder to never take for granted the safety and freedom we often take for granted. As Yanai continues to heal from her traumatic experience, she hopes to bring awareness and support to the remaining hostages and their families. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and determination of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable horrors. Let us all strive to make the world a safer and more peaceful place for future generations.
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