Nova survivor turns art into an economic lifeline for fellow survivors

In an interview on i24NEWS' show 'Jewish World Weekly' hosted by Emily Frances, Nova massacre survivor Shye Klein shared his story and detailed his work as curator of the Nova Collection, an initiative that supports survivors through art and economic empowerment. Klein, who made aliyah just months before October 7, has turned his trauma into a mission to help fellow survivors sell their work in dozens of countries while raising global awareness of the tragedy.

A New Immigrant’s Night of Horror

Klein had only recently moved to Israel in June 2023 when he attended the Nova festival with his cousin and friends. He described the night as “probably some of the most fun I’ve ever had” before the attack began.

When the first rockets fired, his instincts kicked in. “I was already anxious as it is the moment the first rockets were fired. And I was just really pushing my friends like, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,” he said.

Klein drove his group through open fields for about 45 minutes until they reached Netivot, then continued down Route 34 toward Tel Aviv, passing what he called “scenes of horror and carnage caused by the Hamas terrorists.” They arrived home at 9:47 a.m. that morning.

The Nova festival attack on October 7, 2023, left at least 364 people dead and hundreds more injured, making it one of the deadliest single incidents of the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel.

Turning Trauma Into Purpose

After October 7, Klein said his approach to photography and storytelling shifted. “It’s been changed in a way that I could only describe as being more real. I try and really capture the people who I’m photographing, who they are and their personalities,” he explained. “So that way, the viewer can sort of get a sense of the human aspect instead of just, oh, this is a pretty picture.”

Through his own recovery and conversations with other survivors, Klein noticed a recurring challenge: financial instability. Many Nova survivors are artists and small business owners struggling to rebuild.

“I saw through my own friends and interactions with other survivors, some of the challenges everybody was facing, challenges that I was also facing. And one of those challenges is a lack of financial stability,” he said.

Art as an Economic Lifeline

The Nova Collection emerged as a direct response. Partnering with ESIK, a company dedicated to supporting Israeli small businesses and artisans, Klein helped launch a platform that sells survivor-made art and products internationally. “They exist solely to support Israeli small businesses and make their art and artisans work available outside of Israel,” Klein said of ESIK.

Since the Nova Collection launched in October 2025, it has sold work in 30 countries worldwide. ESIK’s broader network, which includes collections from reservists and Orthodox women, has reached more than 50 countries. The platform features not only the artwork but also interviews and bios for each artist, putting a human face on every purchase.

Global Outreach and Documentary

Klein and the Nova Collection team are preparing a campaign for October, encouraging communities around the world to host events where Klein will share his testimony and attendees can view the art firsthand. “We’re starting a campaign around October for people to bring the collection to their communities, where I will give my testimony and they can look at the art themselves and hear about the collection and these artists,” he said.

They also produced a documentary focusing on three of the artists in the collection, tracing their creative work and recovery after October 7. The film is scheduled to begin screening on October 4 in Washington State. “It’s been such a privilege to be involved in this collection. And it wouldn’t be possible without the people at ESIK and their platform,” Klein said.

A Broader Movement of Remembrance

The Nova Collection is part of a wider effort to keep the memory of the festival massacre alive while supporting survivors. Similar initiatives include the Nova Heaven installation at Burning Man, which commemorates the 413 victims and features music from Israeli artists, and the Nova Exhibition in London, which drew more than 40,000 visitors and raised over $700,000 for the Tribe of Nova Foundation.

For Klein, the work is both personal and communal. “After October 7, you know, so many different people from ages of 70 plus down to 19, younger, 16 is volunteer,” he noted, reflecting on the wide range of survivors and volunteers he has met. Through the Nova Collection, he aims to provide not just financial support but also a platform for survivors to tell their stories through art.