The Jew Project: Segev Kalfon, Hostage From The Nova Festival

The Jew Project, created by photographer Yisroel Teitelbaum aims to unify the Jewish people through documenting the lives of individuals. To read more on The Jew Project Click Here.

Raised in Southern Israel, Segev grew up working in a family-run bakery.

At 27 years old, while earning his Finance Degree in Tel Aviv, Segev Kalfon attended the Nova Music Festival with some friends.

At 6:29am, Hamas Terrorists initiated a murderous ground invasion of South-West Israel, within running distance of the festival grounds.

Attempting to flee the Nova Massacre, while on the phone with his father, Segev pled with a group hiding in a yellow dumpster to run with him. They did not, and every one of them was later murdered.

Trapped in a bottleneck of fleeing vehicles, witnesses watched the terrorists kidnap Segev, and take him to Gaza as a hostage.

Segev was held in a terror cell’s tunnel, hundreds of feet under Gaza, for 738 days. Over 2 years.
In that time, Segev endured daily beatings, torture, abuse, interrogation, and inhumane brutality.

For the majority of his captivity, his family did not receive proof of life, and did not know if they were fighting for the return of their child or the release of his body.

The Kalfon family only learned that Segev was alive 16 months into his captivity, from another hostage who saw him in a tunnel.

Segev has spoken openly of how he dove deep into his faith and love for family to get him through the darkest days imaginable.

Fellow hostages confirmed how Segev used a square of toilet paper as a kippa, and recited Kiddush on Friday nights over a small cup of water he had saved up.

At one low point, Segev saw an opportunity where he would either escape or die trying. At that moment, he suddenly heard his mother’s voice coming from a radio covering an Israeli rally. This sign gave him renewed strength to endure on, for his family.

Segev was one of the final 20 living hostages who’s release was secured by U.S. President Donald Trump, in October 2025.

A month later, Segev met and thanked President Trump in person for securing his release from what he called “his grave.”

Segev is on a long road of recovery but has tirelessly shared his story to endless international audiences to ensure the stories of all victims of 10-7 are not forgotten, or erased.