Argentina plants 414 trees to mark Nova massacre victims

A forest of 414 trees was dedicated in Mendoza, Argentina, on Monday.

Each tree represents one victim of the Nova music festival massacre. The site, named Bosque KKL Nova, is the first memorial to the attack established outside of Israel.

KKL Argentina, the local branch of the Jewish National Fund, developed the project with the City of Mendoza. The organization cited the Re'im Grove in Israel as an inspiration for the design. The trees selected for planting include jacaranda, olive, cypress, lapacho, and sweetgum. These species were chosen for their suitability to the local climate and their symbolic significance.

A monument is planned for the center of the forest. This area will serve as a gathering space for relatives and visitors. The initiative aims to attach a specific memory to every tree planted.

Bereaved families and representatives from the Nova Tribe Community Association traveled to Argentina for the inauguration. The group also participated in commemorative events in Buenos Aires and Mendoza during October. They held testimony sessions and spoke at synagogues and schools. KKL-JNF chairman Eyal Ostrinsky stated that the forest demonstrates the support of Jewish communities abroad. He noted that each tree represents a person, a family, and a story.

Reef Peretz, executive director of the Nova Tribe Community Association, said the growing forest will help share the victims' stories with people overseas. He described the return of families originally from Argentina to their birthplace as an emotional experience. Peretz thanked Argentine President Javier Milei for his support of the victims' families.

Omri Kochavi, a survivor of the massacre and project manager at the association, accompanied the delegation. He said the meetings were designed to help people understand the individual lives behind the number 414.