On October 7, 2023, Israel was attacked. Terrorists from Gaza infiltrated the border, killing many people along the way. With their killing spree, they also took over 200 people hostage, brutally beating, threatening, and torturing them. One hundred and sixty-six out of 251 hostages were able to survive their captivity, one of them being Maya Regev.
Twenty-three-year-old Regev was one of the many hostages kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival, which was located near the Gaza border on the day of the attack. After spending countless weeks in captivity, Regev was released during a temporary ceasefire agreement in November 2023. At the time of her release, however, her younger brother, Itay Regev, was still being held hostage in Gaza, adding even more fear and uncertainty to an already traumatizing experience. He was later released a few days afterwards as part of the same hostage deal. Since returning home, Maya Regev has spoken publicly about her experience and the importance of never forgetting those who were still being held captive.
On May 18, Regev visited Tenafly High School, where students and staff gathered to hear her story firsthand. During her visit, she reflected on her life before she was taken, her time during the captivity, and her time afterwards, expanding upon how her life changed after the event. She left the attendees with an important message that they can take into their own lives as well.
“The event is very meaningful because it brought a lot of teachers and students to come together and hear the first-person story, to hear someone [who] went and experienced the horrors that happened on that day, after that day, and also what Maya said that many people just talk about in a political way,” Adi Weissman (’26), Co-President of Jewish Student Union, said. “But every time someone talks about this, you must remember that there are stories, and there are people behind each one of them. They are not just political talks and political debates.”
What is being shared online fails to acknowledge the truth behind each person talked about.
Regev described herself before October 7 as a normal young adult who had recently finished serving in the IDF and was saving money to travel the world. She explained that sports, friends, family, and work filled her daily life, and attending the Nova festival with her brother and friends was supposed to be a celebratory experience.
“At 6:29 AM, we were at the main stage dancing,” Regev said. “A few minutes before everything started, I remember hugging my friend and saying how much fun I was having. Then, suddenly, the DJ shut off the music and announced there were red alerts because rockets were being launched from Gaza. At first, we didn’t think it was a big deal because in Israel, unfortunately, rockets happen sometimes. We assumed things would calm down and the party would continue. Eventually, police officers started running around screaming that terrorists had entered Israel and everyone needed to escape. We heard people screaming that their friends had been killed. That’s when we realized this was much bigger and much more serious than we first thought.”
Just moments later, she, her brother, and Omer Shem Tov attempted to escape the festival grounds. After running in the open field for over an hour, the group got into one of their friend’s cars. However, terrorists quickly ambushed the vehicle and began to open fire. Both Maya and Itay were shot in their legs before being dragged out of the car and taken into Gaza. She recalled how she called her father just moments before this all happened: “I remember screaming into the phone that I had been shot and that terrorists were kidnapping us. My father heard everything happening live.”
The last thing her father heard was her pleas for help, but he couldn’t help her.
While in the tunnels, Regev mentioned how she lived every day in constant fear and total uncertainty. She did not know where her brother was being held, whether he was alive, or if she would ever get to see him again.
When she was told she was going home, she was so scared that it was all a hoax and that it was just another mental trick the terrorists were playing on her, as they had done the same in the past. Even as she was given new clothes and told to prepare for the release, she remained cautious, trying not to get her hopes up.
“When I was transferred through Egypt back to Israel, an ambulance driver handed me a phone and told me a family member wanted to speak with me,” Regev said. “It was my mother. I told her I loved her and missed her so much. Then I asked if my father was okay because during captivity, I didn’t know if he had survived October 7. Then I heard my father’s voice in the background, and I started crying immediately.”
Shortly after, Regev was taken to a hospital where she was reunited with her family.
During her visit to THS, she encouraged students to appreciate everyday life, stay informed through reliable sources, and remember that behind every headline are real people and families affected long after the events themselves.
“Don’t take anything for granted because life can change in a second,” Regev said. “After three weeks in captivity, I got a toothbrush and cried because it meant so much to me. That’s when I realized how important even the smallest things in life really are. Be grateful for what you have. Hug your friends and family. Be kind to each other. Everyone goes through difficult times, but after hardship, there can also be growth. Always try to learn from difficult experiences and focus on the positive things in life.”
