Lee’s Oct 7 Nova Festival Survivor Rehabilitation

On Oct 7th, Lee Sasi, a 25 year old American woman from Los Angeles, California, was attending the Nova music festival in Israel when the terrorist organization, Hamas, began attacking concertgoers.

“We arrived at the party and we were dancing, laughing, having the most wonderful time when we thought we saw what looked like fireworks,” Sasi said.

When Lee, her uncle, and friends realized it wasn’t fireworks, but a barrage of rockets, they fled the party and hid in a nearby bomb shelter. Their hiding space was a 5x8 cement box without a door. Meant for 10 people, 40 were squeezed in when the terrorists showed up.

Lee’s friend Alex was guarding the entryway of the bomb shelter. “Hamas terrorists immediately just started shooting at everyone who was in the front of the shelter; maybe 10 people fell down instantly in front of my eyes,” Sasi said. “After that they were throwing grenades, and when the grenade fell, it blew up my uncle right in front of my face while he was protecting me.”

Sasi said the Hamas militants were laughing as they shot the concertgoers. “There was such excitement & happiness in their voices, it was like joy to them. Like they were waiting to kill us.”

Hamas terrorists continuously attempted to burn the shelter down by throwing grenades and Molotov cocktails on the bodies. They even fired RPG missiles into the pile of bodies. For over seven hours, Lee hid under a pile of dead bodies to survive, watching as other concertgoers slowly died from their injuries.

“Everybody was dying in front of me,” she said. “I had to bury myself under the bodies to protect myself.”

Of the 40 people in the bomb shelter - only 9 came out alive. Lee was one of the lucky ones.

Seven of Lee’s family members attended the Nova music festival with her. Four of them died that day. Two of the deceased were Lee’s pregnant cousin Nitzan and her boyfriend. Hamas posted a video of the boyfriend being shot/murdered on the internet.

Lee returned home to Los Angeles and expected to continue her life as it was before October 7th. She quickly realized how profoundly affected she was by Hamas’ attack. “Every day feels like Oct 7th,” said Lee. Sasi does not feel physically or mentally capable of going back to work yet. She cannot hear well from the blasts of the gunshots and rockets. She needs psychological treatment, recovery and healing.

Because Sasi is an American citizen she has not received aid from Israel like the Israeli survivors. Unfortunately the US government is not helping American survivors medically or financially.

Your contribution will support Lee’s immediate financial needs like trauma care, mental health support and money to live until Lee can feel well enough for employment.

We have come together to raise awareness and money to help Lee get the help and support she needs. Please join us in helping Lee start a new positive chapter of her beautiful life ahead.

This fundraising effort has been organized by Jenny Mollen, Michelle Hellman, Allison Schlanger & Gillian Laub who met Lee and were so moved by her bravery and voice.

For more on Lee’s story:

CNN: https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/10/12/bomb-shelter-israel-hamas-attack-nova-music-festival-survivor-lee-sasi-lead-vpx.cnn

New Nation with Chris Cuomo: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ck8HelxZjLI