414 Trees Planted in Argentina to Honor Nova Festival Victims

A forest of 414 trees was inaugurated in Mendoza, Argentina, to mark the lives lost in the Nova music festival massacre. Each tree corresponds to one victim killed on October 7, creating a physical map of the dead in a South American province. The Bosque KKL Nova stands as the first dedicated memorial site for the attack located outside the borders of Israel.

The project was developed in partnership with the City of Mendoza by KKL Argentina, the local branch of the Jewish National Fund. The initiative mirrors existing memorial groves in Israel, specifically the Re'im Grove and the Nova memorial site. A central monument is planned for the middle of the forest, providing a gathering space for relatives and visitors to remember the murdered. The planting included jacaranda, olive, cypress, lapacho, and sweetgum species, chosen for their regional adaptability and symbolic weight.

Bereaved families and representatives from the Nova Tribe Community Association traveled to Argentina for the dedication ceremony. The delegation also included representatives from KKL-JNF. During their stay, the group held testimony sessions in Buenos Aires and Mendoza. Members of the delegation participated in October 7 commemorations, met with Argentina's Jewish community, and addressed audiences at synagogues and educational institutions in both cities.

Eyal Ostrinsky, chairman of KKL-JNF, stated that the forest demonstrates the commitment of Jewish communities abroad to support Israel and preserve memory. He noted that each tree represents a person with a specific family and life story. Ostrinsky described the project as a practical way to attach individual memory to a living object, moving remembrance beyond abstract concepts.

Reef Peretz, executive director of the Nova Tribe Community Association, said the growing forest will help disseminate the victims' names and stories to international audiences. He described the experience of families, some originally from Argentina, returning to their birthplace to commemorate their children as deeply emotional. Peretz also acknowledged President Javier Milei for his partnership and support of the victims' families.

Omri Kochavi, a survivor of the massacre and a project manager at the association, accompanied the families throughout the trip. Kochavi, who previously worked in public diplomacy, said the meetings were designed to help the public understand the individual lives behind the total count of 414. He emphasized his responsibility to the families as both a survivor and a companion on the journey.