The Weitzman Offers Free Tickets to Pop-Up Exhibition Paying Tribute to Nova Music Festival Victims, Survivors, and Their Resilience

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (October 1, 2024) – In recognition of the first anniversary of the Hamas-led massacre of 1,200 and kidnapping of more than 250 people in Israel on October 7, 2023, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History will host a week-long, interior and exterior pop-up exhibition of artifacts from the Nova Music Festival, including burned cars, bullet-riddled bathroom stalls, and personal belongings from victims of the terrorist attack.

After visiting the installation earlier this year, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro arranged for this exhibition to come to The Weitzman in honor of the one-year anniversary of the terror attack on Israel. Governor Shapiro visits the Museum often and was sworn into office on a Bible from its collection.

From October 6-13, a pop-up, traveling version of The Moment the Music Stood Still: The Nova Music Festival Exhibition, will display remnants salvaged from the festival grounds including a camping area with tents, empty bottles, and a replica DJ booth, as well as video testimonies and written first person accounts. The exhibition space will be transformed via dim and colorful lighting that evokes a concert, while creating a contemplative atmosphere.

Two scorched vehicles from the music festival site will be stationed on the pedestrian plaza in front of the Museum for the duration of the exhibition.

These artifacts memorialize a horrific event when the lives of festival-goers celebrating music–if they survived–were irrevocably changed. Through their stories and these artifacts, visitors will bear witness and encounter the poignant call to action embraced by survivors of the massacre: “We will dance again.” 

The exhibition, created and directed by Reut Feingold and organized by the Nova Music Festival’s producers, pays homage to the festival attendees, including the 410 murdered by Hamas, the 22 hostages who remain in captivity, and the 3,750 survivors.

“American Jews experienced the October 7th massacre in deeply personal ways, cementing the horrific day in our shared experience,” said Dr. Misha Galperin, outgoing President & CEO of The Weitzman. “While this history is still unfolding, it’s clear American Jewish lives were changed that day. As a place of truth and learning, we must share these stories.”

This exhibition follows sold-out installations in New York and Los Angeles, where it is currently open. It will be open to the public and free of charge.

Hours of Operation

The full Museum will be open the entire week. Museum hours are the same as special exhibition hours except where otherwise noted. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. 

Sunday, October 6: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, October 7: 1:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. *Museum open 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.*
Tuesday, October 8: 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 9: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, October 10: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday, October 11: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, October 12: Closed for Yom Kippur
Sunday, October 13: 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.   

*This exhibition is appropriate for ages 16+*

Free, timed tickets are now available here.

The Weitzman is offering additional events and commemorations of the anniversary, including:

• October 6: Screening of We Will Dance Again, a documentary about the Nova Music Festival at 3 p.m.
• October 6: 365 Days of Hope | Philadelphia Commemoration on Independence Mall at 5 p.m.
• October 7: The Weitzman’s galleries will be open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. to offer a quiet place for contemplation, learning, and community; ANU Museum of the Jewish People’s October 7 exhibition slideshow and soundtrack playing in the theater throughout the day, and for the remainder of the week through Sunday, October 13. 
• October 14: “Between October Seventh and Simchat Torah: Marking the First Yahrzeit as  Global Jewish People”–Online discussion with ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Israel that brings together American and Israeli Jewish communities
• October 20: “Ghosts of Holy War” book talk with Yardena Schwartz and President of Gratz College, Zev Eleff

Learn more. 

HIGH-RES PHOTOS

ABOUT THE WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
Established in 1976, and situated on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. The Weitzman presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. Standing as a joyful bulwark against antisemitism, bigotry, and hate, The Weitzman serves to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire. www.theweitzman.org 

ABOUT THE TRIBE OF NOVA FOUNDATION
Founded by the producers of the Nova Music Festival, the Tribe of Nova Foundation was initiated following the atrocities on October 7th. The foundation was formed to provide assistance for those impacted by the massacre. The goal of this initiative is to save lives, help heal and empower the community, prevent suicides and create a community-based outlet for all attendees. This includes financial aid, social integration, mental and occupational therapies for the survivors and their families. In addition, the Tribe of Nova foundation provides the survivors with weekly therapy meet ups, healing concerts, and memorial events for those lives lost on October 7th. Donations go towards the healing journey of the survivors and the bereaved families.
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