Tamar Kam, 23, is a survivor of the horrific Nova Music Festival massacre. On October 7, Tamar was at the festival with her boyfriend of three years, Ofek. When the sirens alerting festivalgoers of rockets overhead started blaring in the early morning, they got into their car, trying to get to somewhere safe. They were stopped by a police roadblock and abandoned their vehicle, running into a mobile shelter beside the road for safety. But safety was nowhere to be found.
Hamas terrorists attacked the shelter, throwing grenades inside and shooting with automatic weapons. All around Tamar and Ofek were wounded, dead, screams. Ofek and Tamar managed to flee the shelter and make their way to the nearby Kibbutz Alumim, entering an apartment, desperately seeking somewhere safe. Ofek helped Tamar hide under a bed while he grabbed a kitchen knife to arm himself. They soon heard terrorists surround the house and then the bullets began flying all around them. Ofek was shot in the chest and killed. Tamar screamed, but thinking she could hear Hebrew, she opened the front door and was then shot in the stomach.
The terrorist barked at her in Arabic, “What is your name?” Barely breathing, Tamar replied and asked that he not kill her. He took aim with his gun, intending to shoot, but the approach of Israeli soldiers to the kibbutz made the terrorist retreat. Tamar collapsed to the floor and somehow made a tourniquet around her stomach. She lay there for hours, next to Ofek’s body, struggling to keep herself awake, to not lose consciousness, until being evacuated by soldiers.
Tamar suffered from shrapnel wounds to her back and a bullet wound to her stomach that went all the way through her back, causing severe nerve damage. She is currently in the hospital recovering and is unable to stand or walk and requires long-term rehabilitation. While there, a representative of The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT) visited her. The FVOT, often the first responder for families and individuals impacted by terror, distributes immediate grants within 24-48 hours of a direct attack, offering support for short-term needs and helping with long-term rehabilitation and post-trauma care. Tamar is extremely thankful for the assistance from the FVOT, which is helping her cover the basic financial needs of herself and her mother at this time.
The Fund is made possible by the generosity of the Jewish Federations of North America / United Israel Appeal, Keren Hayesod, foundations and donors worldwide and people like you. Our aid is critical for victims’ immediate well-being and long-term recovery and we are currently operating and supporting more victims on a wider scale than ever before. To support the Fund, donate here.
