Cadena Club Visits Powerful Nova Exhibition

By: Alexandra Bentes

On Tuesday February 12th, over 100 students from Don Soffer Aventura High School went on a special field trip to the Nova Exhibition, a moving experience that tells the story of the Nova Music Festival attack that happened in Israel on October 7, 2023.

“I organized this trip through the Cadena Club because I believe it’s important to educate people and show the world what really happened that day. This was not just a regular school field trip, it was a chance to learn, feel, and remember.”

The Nova Exhibition takes visitors through the events of October 7th using real objects from the festival site: burnt cars, bullet-damaged bathrooms, and personal belongings left behind. Powerful images and stories showed the heartbreaking contrast between the joy of the music festival and the horror of the attack. One section also showed photos of the hostages who are still being held by Hamas.

At the end of the exhibit, we had the chance to hear from Roey Dery, a survivor of the attack. He shared his personal story, and spoke about his friends, what they saw, what they experienced and felt, and how his life has changed. After losing his best friend that day, he struggled to face the world, but over time, speaking about their memories together gave him strength. It was emotional and powerful. The students were deeply moved, and it reminded us why it’s so important to speak out against hate and violence, and to treasure every moment with loved ones. Life is precious, let’s live it with gratitude and kindness.

Before we left, we walked through the Healing Room, a quiet space made for reflection and hope. In the center was a message that said "We will dance again." It was a reminder that even after pain, healing and unity are possible.

This trip has left a lasting impact on the Soffer students that attended. Many students said it helped them understand the tragedy on a deeper level. Don Soffer High gives its pride and thanks to the Cadena Club, as they were able to successfully bring this experience to our school and help our community learn, reflect, and stand together.