News12 New York
N12 Originals
Numbers & Links
Local
Crime
Weather
Politics

Canadian photographer recounts surviving Hamas' deadly attack at Israeli music festival

A Canadian photographer who survived Hamas' deadly attack at a music festival in Israel in October was in Fairfield Saturday night to recount his experience.

Tom Krosnowski

Nov 18, 2023, 9:28 PM

Updated

Share:

More Stories

A Canadian photographer who survived Hamas' deadly attack at a music festival in Israel in October was in Fairfield Saturday night to recount his experience.

Shye Weinstein spoke at Congregation Or Hadash.

The 26-year-old had been in Israel since April. He decided at the last minute to go to the Nova Music Festival with his cousins and friends.

Weinstein described the feeling of joy around the festival that was suddenly interrupted at 6 a.m. by the blare of rockets, and later, gunfire and screaming.

Hundreds were killed or taken as hostages. Weinstein said he lost friends he had made at the festival. He recalled driving around bodies, vacant cars and men dressed in black carrying guns.

“It's just a really overwhelming sense of anxiousness among everybody. Nobody knows what's going on,” Weinstein said. “Still, rockets. People I met at the festival, who I made friends with, I found out were later killed. Your presence and your support is more than enough.”

One corner of the sanctuary was filled with 240 posters showing those taken hostage by Hamas.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County called for their safe return.

More Stories

More From News12

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices