Israeli-Hamas war hostage survivor Moran Stella Yanai speaks in Denver

The Nova Music Festival is said to be Moran Stella Yanai’s “big start” in making and selling jewelry in Israel.

Instead, the October 7 festival turned into a nightmare when Yanai was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists while fleeing the group’s attack and held hostage for 54 days. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.

Yanai, 41, is one of the few hostages to speak publicly about the ordeal and is said to be the first to speak in Colorado. organizers with Chabad of South Denver.

On Wednesday evening, she shared her experiences with nearly 200 people at the BMH-BJ congregation in Denver’s Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood.

According to The Associated Press, Yanai was among 250 people kidnapped by Hamas-led forces in an attack that killed an estimated 1,200 people and ignited the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. About a hundred people are still being held hostage, a third of whom are presumed dead.

More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to estimates by the Palestinian Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties.

Nova was the first festival Yanai attended, and she recalled admiring a sunrise shortly before the rockets began firing over the event.

“It was complete chaos,” she said. “Half the people were running and screaming, some walking, some dancing, some laughing and I didn’t know which one to choose.”

As the rockets continued, Yanai began running and continued to try to escape for the next five hours before breaking her leg falling from a tree and being captured by Hamas.

Yanai was moved between seven houses over the next 54 days and lost half her hearing as a result of the near-constant bombardment. She described being beaten, punished for showing emotions, denied food and not allowed to leave a mattress or speak.

“I didn’t feel the pain of being hit, I didn’t feel the fractures because I had to focus on one thing: surviving,” she said.

Former Hamas hostage Moran Stella Yanai watches a video presentation before taking the stage to talk about her horrific experiences during an event hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver at the BMH-BJ congregation in Denver on Wednesday. Yanai was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival on October 7 and held in Gaza for 54 days before being released. (Photo by Andy Cross/JS)

The focus on moment-to-moment survival and signs of hope and faith were what kept her going, Yanai told the crowd.

“It taught me that even in hell on earth, I can see the good,” she said. “I learned that I am very strong – that we women are so strong.”

Yanai said she will now do everything she can to bring the remaining hostages home and urged others to do the same.

“You have a responsibility too, each of you,” she said. “If this Nova story does not end differently, no one will be safe. You have to choose which world you want your children to inherit.”

Her words were echoed by Rabbi Avraham Mintz of the Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver, who addressed the group before Yanai spoke.

“We must continue to do everything we can to bring all our brothers and sisters home and end the pain and suffering,” Mintz said.

The audience listens to Yanai’s speech Wednesday at the BMH-BJ congregation in Denver. Yanai was held captive in Gaza for 54 days. (Photo by Andy Cross/JS)

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Israeli-Hamas war hostage survivor Moran Stella Yanai speaks in Denver

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