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.