Genesis Prize Chairman Stan Polovets Visits Nova Music Festival Site in Show of Solidarity With Israelis

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By Alexander Hamilton

Standing amid the ruins of what was a celebration of life and music, Genesis Prize Foundation Chairman Stan Polovets confronted the stark reality of the devastation wrought by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023. His first visit to the Nova Music Festival site and nearby Kibbutz Nir Oz marked somber milestones in his 10-day journey through Israel, where he witnessed unimaginable loss and unwavering resilience.

The sound of wailing sirens interrupted Polovets’ visit to the festival site, forcing him and others to seek shelter from incoming missiles. This moment, while jarring, served as a powerful reminder of Israel’s current reality — a nation simultaneously mourning its losses while defending against continued threats. According to Stan Polovets, “There was no panic, only resolve.”

This resolve emerged as a recurring theme throughout Polovets’ journey to the site, where hundreds of young festivalgoers lost their lives in 2023. Walking through the grounds where music once played and celebration once filled the air, Polovets confronted the magnitude of the tragedy. “I felt sick to my stomach being at the site of the Nova Music Festival, knowing that over 350 young people were slaughtered there by evil terrorists,” he says.

In the nearby kibbutz, amid scenes of destruction, an unexpected discovery caught his attention. “I’ll never forget the candelabra lying in the ruins,” Polovets shares. “This menorah — a symbol of Judaism for thousands of years — lay in the burned ashes of the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. Yet, for millennia, after countless other attempts at destroying us, this symbol — and the Jews — have survived.”

The Genesis Prize Foundation’s Role in Global Humanitarian Relief

In 2024, rather than honoring an individual, The Genesis Prize Foundation recognized five organizations working to secure the release of hostages and support their families. This move follows a similar decision in 2023 when the Prize honored Jewish activists and NGOs for their humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Stan Polovets stated, “This award is not a political statement. The Genesis Prize is a humanitarian award.”

Throughout his visit, Polovets engaged with a cross-section of Israeli society — businesspeople, nongovernmental organization directors, and families of hostages. These conversations revealed a common thread. Stan Polovets says, “No matter how abandoned Israelis feel by the world at large, no matter the danger they face by anti-Israel and antisemitic mobs in Amsterdam and throughout Europe, no matter the growing scourge of antisemitism in the United States and around the world — I saw and felt only a determination to defeat those who wish to harm or even destroy Israel and the Jews.”

A Survivor Speaks

Oct. 7 survivor Eitan Halley attended the Nova Music Festival near Re’im in southern Israel. Halley recalled, “I look up, and I see the largest — the most rockets I’ve ever seen in my life.” 

Amid the chaos, Halley and his friends attempted to escape by car but were caught in heavy traffic. They eventually found an alternative exit, and along the way, they sought refuge in a roadside shelter, which soon became overcrowded. Halley recounted, “I remember a few seconds after that happened, we heard cars pull up, a group of people jump out screaming in Arabic, and they started firing at the entrance.” 

Trapped for hours, Halley and others made desperate calls for help, but assistance was delayed. Eventually, the father of a festivalgoer arrived with a pistol, coordinated with the army, and facilitated their rescue. Halley sustained physical injuries, including shrapnel wounds and hearing damage, leading to persistent headaches, dizziness, and balance issues. He also experiences psychological trauma, stating, “I can find myself crying in the middle of the day for no reason.”

Halley avoids triggers that recall the attack, such as trance music, but remains hopeful: “One day, I hope that I will be able to go back to parties and dance again and enjoy myself the way I used to.”

Stan Polovets: ‘Bring the Hostages Home Now’

For Polovets, the Nova Music Festival site visit illuminated stakes that extend beyond Israel’s borders. “Israel is fighting not only for the survival of the Jewish people but for Western civilization,” he says. “It’s come down to freedom versus terrorism. Civilization versus barbarism. Democracy versus theocracy.”

He continues, “Bring the hostages home. Now. Never forget Oct. 7. The only option is the defeat of those who threaten Israel and the Jews.”

Yet amid the solemnity of his visit, Stan Polovets found reason for hope in the resilience he witnessed. “We will never forget. We will never forgive,” he says. “Israel — and the Jewish people — will not only survive, but we will thrive.”

The Nova Music Festival site now stands as a solemn memorial to lives lost and a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of devastation. For Stan Polovets and The Genesis Prize Foundation, the visit underscored the importance of not only honoring the past but also actively shaping a future where peace and humanity prevail. By reaffirming their commitment to humanitarian relief and standing in solidarity with Israel, Polovets and the foundation send a clear message: Remembrance and action are inseparable in the fight for survival and hope.