Argentina Dedicates Forest of 414 Trees to Victims of Nova Massacre

A forest planted with 414 trees in Mendoza, Argentina, has been inaugurated in memory of the victims of the Nova massacre, with each tree representing one person killed. KKL Argentina, the Argentine branch of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, established the Bosque KKL Nova as the first memorial site outside Israel dedicated to the massacre.

The project was developed with the City of Mendoza as an expression of solidarity with Israel. Its inspiration came from the Re'im Grove and the Nova memorial site in Israel, both managed by KKL-JNF. A monument is planned for the center of the forest, where relatives and other visitors will be able to gather and remember those who were murdered.

Jacaranda, olive, cypress, lapacho and sweetgum are among the species planted at the site. The trees were chosen both for their ability to grow in the region and for their symbolic meaning. KKL Argentina described the forest as a way of putting remembrance into practice, with an individual memory attached to every tree.

Bereaved families and representatives of the Nova Tribe Community Association traveled to Argentina for the dedication, which was also attended by KKL-JNF representatives. Their visit included testimony sessions in Buenos Aires and Mendoza. Members of the delegation also reportedly took part in October 7 commemorations, met Argentina's Jewish community and spoke at synagogues and educational institutions in both cities.

According to KKL-JNF, the families discussed the people they had lost, the Nova community and their experiences since October 7. Parents also tell their murdered children's stories on the initiative's website. KKL-JNF chairman Eyal Ostrinsky said the forest reflected the commitment of Jewish communities outside Israel to supporting the country and preserving the victims' memory. He emphasized that every tree represented a person whose life encompassed a family and a story.

Reef Peretz, executive director of the Nova Tribe Community Association, said the growing forest would help bring the victims' names and stories to people overseas. He described the return of families originally from Argentina to commemorate their children in their birthplace as a deeply emotional experience. Peretz also thanked Argentine President Javier Milei for his partnership and support for the victims' families.

Omri Kochavi, a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre and a project manager at the association, accompanied the families throughout the trip. He had participated in the association's activities in Argentina in 2024 and subsequently worked in public diplomacy in Israel and abroad. Kochavi said he felt a strong responsibility both as a survivor and as a companion to the families. The meetings, he said, were intended to help people understand the individual lives, names and families represented by the figure of 414.