September 12th 2024.
The Nova Music Festival was supposed to be the big break for Moran Stella Yanai, a chance for her to launch her jewelry business in Israel. However, instead of being a joyous occasion, the festival quickly turned into a nightmare when Yanai found herself being abducted by Hamas terrorists. This shocking turn of events left Yanai and her loved ones in a state of fear and uncertainty for the next 54 days. It's worth noting that Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, and the European Union.
Yanai's story is one of the few to come to light from this tragic event, and she bravely shared it with a crowd of nearly 200 people at the BMH-BJ Congregation in Denver. She was the first to speak in Colorado about her experience, according to organizers from Chabad of South Denver. Yanai was among the 250 individuals taken hostage by Hamas during the attack, which resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people and sparked the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Sadly, there are still about 100 hostages being held, and it's believed that a third of them have already lost their lives.
According to the Associated Press, over 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza since the war began. These heartbreaking statistics only add to the gravity of Yanai's story. She shared that the Nova Music Festival was the first festival she had ever attended, and she vividly remembers admiring the sunrise before the chaos unfolded. As rockets began to rain down on the event, Yanai and the other attendees were thrown into a state of panic. She described the scene as complete chaos, with some people running and screaming, while others were walking, dancing, or laughing, unsure of what to do.
Amidst the chaos, Yanai made the decision to run for her life and spent the next five hours trying to escape. Unfortunately, she ended up breaking her leg when she fell out of a tree and was eventually captured by Hamas. Over the course of the next 54 days, she was moved between seven different houses and endured constant bombardment from the outside. Yanai shared that she lost half of her hearing due to the relentless shelling, and she also suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her captors. She was often punished for showing emotion, denied food, and not allowed to leave a mattress or speak.
Despite the harrowing circumstances, Yanai found the strength to survive by focusing on the present moment and holding onto hope and faith. She shared that even in the midst of hell on Earth, she was able to find moments of positivity and goodness. Her experience also taught her just how strong she is, and she urged the crowd to recognize the strength of women. Yanai's ultimate goal now is to do everything in her power to bring home the remaining hostages and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Rabbi Avraham Mintz of the Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver also addressed the crowd before Yanai spoke, emphasizing the importance of continuing to work towards bringing all the hostages home and ending the pain and suffering. As Yanai spoke, the audience listened intently, and it was clear that her words left a lasting impact on everyone present. Her message was a powerful reminder that we all have a responsibility to create a better world for future generations, and it starts with taking action and standing up for what is right. As Yanai bravely shared her story, she gave hope and strength to those who have suffered and inspired others to take action.
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