On Oct. 7, 2023, our world modified without end. As households in southern Israel celebrated the joyous vacation of Simchat Torah, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, unleashing a brutal assault that left over 1,200 folks lifeless and 251 taken hostage, practically all civilians. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish folks because the Holocaust.
9 months later, 120 hostages stay in captivity, together with eight US residents. These are our neighbors, colleagues and buddies. They’re kids torn from their mother and father, grandparents separated from their households and international nationals who got here to Israel as staff or vacationers. A few of these hostages, we now know, had been murdered by Hamas – but their our bodies are nonetheless being held, denying their family members even the fundamental dignity of burial and mourning.
We deliver you their tales. We plan to profile most of the 120 remaining people being held by Hamas in Gaza – although we dearly hope they’ll all come house now, rendering this mission pointless. Till then, you’ll find out about their lives, their desires and the households anxiously awaiting their return. We start with the American hostages, together with Itay Chen, Edan Alexander and Omer Neutra, younger males whose futures had been brutally interrupted.
This isn’t simply information – it’s a name to our shared humanity. As you learn these profiles, we urge you to do not forget that every hostage is somebody’s mother or father, partner or baby. They vary from 84 years previous to 1 yr younger. Their absence leaves a void in numerous lives.
We’re not right here to let you know what to assume or the right way to really feel. We merely ask that you simply learn, replicate and bear in mind. Share these tales in the event that they transfer you. Communicate out when you really feel compelled. In a world that always strikes too rapidly from one disaster to the following, we imagine these people should be greater than only a fading headline.
Time is operating out for these nonetheless held captive. By these 120 tales, we hope to maintain their plight within the forefront of our neighborhood’s consciousness. As a result of till each hostage is house, part of all of us stays captive too.
Thanks for becoming a member of us on this journey of remembrance and hope.
Doron Steinbrecher | Animal Lover with an Infectious Snicker
Veterinary Nurse
Meet Doron: Veterinary nurse Doron Steinbrecher, 30, has all the time been captivated with animals – and folks, too. Described because the “glue” of her social circles, she can be tremendous shut along with her three younger nephews, who know her affectionately as “Dodo,” a play on her identify and the Hebrew phrase for aunt.
Doron loves sports activities, supporting the soccer crew Maccabi Haifa, and theater, performing in lots of musical productions. Her favourite musicians? Justin Beiber and Britney Spears – and she or he has attended concert events by each of them. Since she was a toddler, she’s dreamed of touring to New York and seeing a great deal of Broadway Reveals.
October seventh and Past: At 6:30am on October seventh, Hamas terrorists invaded Doron’s neighborhood of Kibbutz Kfar Aza. As they went up and down the village streets, massacring each civilian they laid eyes on, she and her household locked themselves of their secure rooms. Her sister and oldsters stay secure, however Doron didn’t. At 10:30am, after 4 agonizing hours of listening to the gunshots and explosions draw nearer and nearer, she despatched her final textual content message to her household: “They’ve arrived, they’ve me.”
The Steinbrecher household obtained affirmation per week later from the IDF that Doron was kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas.
Doron has a critical hormonal well being challenge, and requires treatment day by day. Based mostly on a hostage video of her that Hamas launched on January twenty sixth, her sister Simona believes she is just not receiving this treatment, and could also be struggling abuse. The household is gravely anxious about her well-being.
Message From the Household: “We should unite as a worldwide neighborhood with a singular goal – to exert strain on Hamas to launch the hostages and conform to a cease-fire. Solely collective efforts could make a distinction,” says Doron’s sister Simona.
“We’re ready for her to return again, and to make her dream of touring to New York come true.”
Uriel Baruch | Everlasting Optimist who Cherished to Dance
Building Supplies Provider
Meet Uriel: Uriel Baruch, 35, was a ray of sunshine to all, remembered by his family members for “the smile that by no means left his face in any scenario.” From the Jerusalem suburb of Givon, he was the proud husband of Racheli and adoring father of two boys. To them he was all the time “full of affection and pleasure.”
Uriel discovered happiness and luxury in music and dancing; buddies describe how his marriage ceremony to Racheli went effectively previous 3 a.m. as a result of the dancing simply wouldn’t cease. All through his years, at any time when potential, Uriel would attempt to activate techno music and dance, even for a short while. To him, it was a method of celebrating life and spreading positivity internationally.
Oct. 7 and Past: It was this love for music, particularly high-energy digital tracks, which introduced Uriel and his buddies to the Nova music competition in southern Israel. Tragically, within the early morning of Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists invaded the location and commenced massacring festival-goers.
The shock assault left Uriel’s household in an agonizing limbo; it wasn’t till hours later at once they heard something about him in any respect. Nevertheless, the replace didn’t present closure: his household noticed a clip on social media exhibiting Uriel’s buddies murdered in his automotive, with Uriel on the bottom subsequent to it, unclear whether or not he was lifeless or alive.
The household went on a relentless search across the nation for the following 11 days, hoping that Uriel was mendacity in a hospital unidentified. The IDF lastly confirmed to them a couple of weeks later that he was kidnapped by Hamas, and was being held hostage in Gaza. After months of attempting to safe his launch, on March 26, Uriel was confirmed to have been murdered by Hamas in captivity. Closure continues to be elusive: Hamas continues to carry his physique as ransom, denying his kinfolk the dignity of burial.
Message from the Household: “To the residents of New York” – pleaded Uriel’s household in a heartfelt message – “don’t overlook the remaining hostages, together with eight Individuals, who’ve been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for over 10 months! Assist and help us within the struggle to deliver them house and safe burial for these whose lives had been taken.”
Alon Ohel | Proficient Pianist with Contagious Vitality
Israeli Citizen | Musician
Meet Alon: Alon Ohel, 23, was born within the northern Israeli city of Lavon to oldsters Idit and Kobi. He has two youthful brothers, Ronen and Inbar. Often called containing “an unbelievable quantity of power,” Alon has all the time been a supply of enthusiasm and pleasure for his buddies, his household and anybody given the chance to satisfy him.
Undoubtedly, Alon’s major ardour is music. Consistently buzzing a tune or fascinated with a track, musical expression is “an inseparable a part of him.” An particularly gifted pianist, Alon was supposed to start his research at certainly one of Israel’s finest music academies — the Rimon College of Music in Tel Aviv – this time period. And really a lot in that spirit, simply earlier than the college yr started Alon and his buddies determined to attend the Nova Pageant to “have a good time life… and to bounce and take heed to the music he beloved a lot.”
Oct. 7 and Past: Alon and his buddies arrived at Nova round 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 7, simply an hour earlier than Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and streamed towards the competition website. Once they started taking pictures, Alon and some others tried to flee by automotive, however had been pressured to show round and flee on foot once they had been ambushed by a sea of terrorists. Pinned down in a bomb shelter with 26 others, Alon despatched a remaining textual content message to his household at 8:08 a.m. – assuring them he was secure.
In keeping with survivors’ testimony, after hours of heroic efforts at protection, the festivalgoers within the shelter succumbed to the fear mob exterior. Hamas ruthlessly slaughtered most, and dragged Alon and 4 others into their car, dragging them off to Gaza as hostages. Alon’s household has not heard something about him since.
Message From the Household: “I do know that he’s alive,” says his mom Idit. “I do know that he’s alive as a result of he was taken alive, and I do know that he’s alive as a result of I’m a mom.”
To keep up positivity and do their half for the hostages, Alon’s household has organized common concert events since Oct. 7 close to the Gaza border in his honor. They hope that by some probability Alon will hear the music he loves, and really feel some consolation. The Ohel household calls on music lovers, New Yorkers and residents of the world to maintain combating for his or her son’s launch and that of each single one of many hostages.
Edan Alexander | Foodie with Intense Braveness
Twin US-Israeli Citizen | IDF Soldier
Meet Edan: Edan Alexander, 20, grew up in Tenafly, NJ – described by his father Adi as “an important all-American child.” The household’s oldest baby, Edan is beloved by his siblings, who look as much as him significantly, and by his mother and father, who adore him. His mom Yael mentioned that rising up he was “his sister’s finest pal.”
In Tenafly Excessive College, Edan thrived out and in of sophistication, had scores of buddies and received a pile of awards from his victories with the college swim crew. He’s additionally all the time been an enormous foodie, obsessive about Thai and Japanese delicacies.
Whereas he initially deliberate to go to school and examine enterprise, when he graduated highschool, Edan felt the next calling to hitch the Israel Protection Forces and defend the Jewish State. His mother and father relate how Edan joined the IDF as a lone soldier since “he felt it was the best factor to do.” He was positioned within the Golani Bridage’s 51st battalion, stationed close to Israel’s border with Gaza.
Oct. 7 and Past: On the morning of Oct. 7, Edan’s mom, who was visiting Israel on the time, anxiously started texting her son at 6:30 a.m. when she first heard stories of the Hamas terror invasion from Gaza. Whereas Edan tried to reassure her that he was secure, she may inform that his place was below assault. Their texts that morning had been the final contact that they had.
By 7 a.m., Edan was not answering his mom’s flurry of texts, and per week later the IDF knowledgeable the household that Edan had been taken hostage by Hamas. They’ve had no information or updates on his whereabouts or situation since.
Message from the Household: “We love him, and we will’t wait to offer him a hug − an enormous bearhug!” his mom mentioned. “We are able to’t anticipate him to return again house. And he’ll come again house.”
The Alexander household known as on the folks of New York to maintain combating for all of the hostages’ launch, particularly Edan and the seven different American hostages who nonetheless stay in Hamas captivity.
Sagui Dekel-Chen | Heroic Father and Countryman
Twin US-Israeli Citizen | Challenge Supervisor
Meet Sagui: Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, is a beloved husband, and father to a few daughters. Born to American mother and father Jonathan and Neomit, Sagui was raised in Bloomfield, NJ for the primary ten years of his life. At that time, his household moved to Kibbutz Nir Ouncesin southern Israel. When Sagui was 14, he met the love of his life, Avital – recognized affectionately as Mili after the Israeli actress Mili Avital – who he would finally marry.
Sagui is very motivated and sharp as a whip. By day, he labored as a mission supervisor for the the Jewish Nationwide Fund’s UK department – serving to assemble colleges and public parks for underserved communities. After hours, he led extra social initiatives to additional develop the Jewish state. Buddies recount that Sagui’s largest life purpose was “the flourishing of the Jewish folks.” And regardless of working late nights on all his initiatives, Sagui nonetheless managed to be an unbelievable father to his two daughters and partner his spouse Avital, who was pregnant with their third baby when the Jewish vacation of Simchat Torah, October seventh, 2023, arrived.
Oct. 7 and Past: Within the early hours of Oct. 7, characteristically hard-working Sagui was up laboring within the kibbutz’s machine store when he noticed Hamas terrorists breaching the kibbutz. He sprinted to the communal eating room and raised the alarm, sending to lockdown of their secure rooms. This motion saved numerous lives. And after checking to verify his pregnant spouse and younger daughters had been secure, Sagui ventured again exterior to fend off the invaders with the remainder of the kibbutz safety crew.
After hours of combating, together with gristly hand-to-hand fight precariously near his spouse Avital, Sagui was final heard from at 9:30 a.m., three-odd hours after the terrorist invasion. The brave defender was carted off by Hamas to Gaza, the place he’s nonetheless being held hostage.
With Sagui nonetheless in captivity, Avital gave start to their third daughter, Shachar. She has but to satisfy her father.
Message From the Household: “Her identify is Shachar, which in Hebrew means Daybreak. She’s the brightest gentle in our horrific darkness proper now,” mentioned Gillian Kaye, Sagui’s stepmother. Sagui’s spouse Avital added unequivocally: “This child is right here due to him. He protected us, so it occurs due to him.”
The household calls on all New Yorkers to maintain combating for Sagui – certainly one of eight American hostages nonetheless being held in Gaza – and for all of the remaining hostages to be freed and swiftly reunited with their households.
Judy Weinstein | Instructor Spreading Calm and Mindfulness
Twin US-Israeli Citizen | Schoolteacher
Meet Judy: Judith (Judy) Weinstein, 70, was born in Monroe, NY to Brooklynite mother and father. Her mom continues to be alive at 95. Described by her household as “deeply related to her inside self,” Judy was “all the time smiling and bringing calm to these round her.” She moved to Israel when she was younger, and settled in Kibbutz Nir Ouncesalong with her husband Gadi Haggai. There, they raised a fantastic household of 4 kids, which might finally blossom with seven grandchildren.
Judy was an English instructor on the native highschool and taught kids with particular wants. As well as, she taught meditation to assist deal with the nervousness skilled by huge quantities of the kibbutz’s kids, as a consequence of years of incessant rocket assaults from neighboring Gaza. Judy impacted hundreds of scholars’ lives for the higher, and was all the time attempting to deliver extra peace and coexistence into the world.
Oct. 7 and Past: On the morning of Oct. 7, Judy and Gadi had been on their morning stroll across the kibbutz when Hamas terrorists invaded the world, shattering the calm. In her last-ever contact along with her household, Judy shared a 40-second video of her and Gadi hiding in a ditch close to the kibbutz. Within the background, the kibbutz alarm system blared, warning its residents of incoming assaults, and the terrorists’ gunfire was getting nearer and nearer. Kibbutz Nir Ounceswas devastated, with 1 / 4 of its inhabitants murdered or kidnapped that day by Hamas.
Kibbutz Nir Ounceswas one of many hardest hit communities on Oct. 7, with 1 / 4 of townsfolk killed or taken hostage by Hamas on that day. After months of uncertainty concerning the couple’s destiny, the IDF confirmed that Hamas killed each Gad and Judy on Oct. 7, and carted their our bodies to Gaza as hostages.
Message from the Household: “There’s nothing extra monstrous than abducting a physique and never letting us, their kids, their grandchildren, our grandmother – our mom’s mom – discover closure,” mentioned Judy’s kids. “We’re caught. We can’t transfer on with our lives till her physique is returned.”
The household calls on New Yorkers to “struggle for justice as we Individuals know the right way to do, struggle in opposition to terror, don’t let terror take over this superb nation, this superb metropolis.”
Gad Haggai | Jazz Artist Dedicated to His Household and Well being
Twin US-Israeli Citizen | Musician & Chef
Meet Gad: “Dwell your life as if it’s your final day, however be taught as when you’ll stay without end.”
This was Gad Haggai’s final Fb put up, revealed to his feed on Oct. 6, and it summed up his 73 years of life in a tragic however lovely method. Born to American mother and father from Brooklyn and Detroit, Gad beloved music from his earliest years. He realized the flute when he was simply three years previous, and went on to play saxophone at Jazz golf equipment throughout Nineteen Seventies New York Metropolis. He was a member of the band Jazz Covenant, and performed alongside style greats like B.B. King.
After dropping his brother to most cancers within the early 2000s, Gad turned massively captivated with well being and vitamin, turning into a vegan chef and immersing himself in a plant-based way of life. Relations describe Gad as “extremely humorous” and charming, but additionally critical about equality and social justice. He lived on Kibbutz Nir Ouncesalong with his American-Israeli spouse Judy, the place that they had 4 kids and 7 grandchildren. Lauded as an exquisite father and grandfather, he gave his household every part, and instilled inside them a rock-solid ethical compass.
Oct. 7 and Past: On the morning of Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists invaded Gad and Judy’s idyllic kibbutz neighborhood. The couple had been on a morning stroll on the time; the very last thing their household has to recollect them is a 40-second video of the couple hiding from roving terrorists in a ditch simply exterior the Kibbutz.
Kibbutz Nir Ounceswas one of many hardest hit communities on Oct. 7, with 1 / 4 of townsfolk killed or taken hostage by Hamas on that day. After months of uncertainty concerning the couple’s destiny, the IDF confirmed that Hamas killed each Gad and Judy on October seventh, and carted their our bodies to Gaza as hostages.
Message From the Household: “We should do every part to deliver them again for a respectful burial. We deserve a grave, they usually should relaxation in peace at house” Gad and Judy’s household cry to the world. They name on New Yorkers “to not overlook that there are eight American hostages, together with our two mother and father” nonetheless being held in Gaza, and to struggle relentlessly for his or her speedy launch.
Itay Chen | A pure chief with an unforgettable smile
Twin US-Israeli Citizen | IDF Soldier
Meet Itay: Itay Chen, 19, was born within the Israeli metropolis of Netanya to New York natives Ruby and Hagit. Buddies described him as a “pure soul” and natural-born chief – with an infectious smile, and a coronary heart all the time open to serving to others. At 17, Itay met Neta, who grew to become his girlfriend, whereas working as a youth counselor at summer time camp. He known as her the love of his life.
Itay beloved hamburgers, late-night pizza and actuality TV. He and Neta dreamed of going to school in America after he accomplished his military service.
October seventh and Past: Itay’s unit was among the many first to come across the Hamas invasion on Oct. 7, 2023; he was final heard from at 6:40 a.m. that morning. After 158 agonizing days of uncertainty, on March 12, 2024, the IDF confirmed Itay had been killed by Hamas. The phobia group continues to carry his physique hostage, denying his household the closure and dignity of a correct burial.
Message from the Household: “Itay’s hugs may make the world proper,” his mother and father shared. “Now, there’s a gap in our hearts the place his laughter was.”
Ruby, Itay’s father, appeals to fellow New Yorkers: “On 9/11, New York confirmed the world the right way to unite in disaster. At the moment, I ask you to face with us, to assist deliver my son – certainly one of your personal – house.”
Hersh Goldberg-Polin | Peace-Loving World Traveler
Twin US-Israeli Citizen
Meet Hersh: Hersh Goldberg-Polin has buddies all around the world. No, actually: at solely 23 years previous, he’s visited scores of nations, and is described by all as a enjoyable, calming presence even throughout language and cultural boundaries. Born in California to American mother and father Rachel and Jon, he grew up there and in Virginia earlier than transferring along with his household to Israel at age seven.
He’s a world traveler who loves climbing, studying, befriending strangers and dancing at music festivals. He loves soccer, rooting for Hapoel Jerusalem, and channeled that keenness towards significant objectives, creating an initiative to deliver Israeli and Palestinian kids collectively by way of the facility of the game.
October seventh and Past: As a part of his birthday celebrations – he turned 23 simply 4 days earlier – Hersh attended the Nova Music Pageant in Re’im, Israel. As he and hundreds of different partygoers danced amid the Oct. 7, 2023 dawn, hundreds of Hamas terrorists streamed into Israel and commenced massacring the dancers.
Hersh and others ran madly to cover in a bomb shelter, however Hamas discovered them and commenced barbarically throwing grenades inside. At round 8 a.m., Hersh despatched a textual content message to his household: “I like you,” adopted by: “I’m sorry.” In keeping with video footage taken by the terrorists themselves, he was then kidnapped by a swarm of Hamas members. His left arm is basically blown off; a younger girl who was within the shelter with him testified that he had risked himself to throw the grenades out. Within the course of, he misplaced most of his dominant arm.
On April 24, Hamas launched a three-minute video of Hersh in captivity.
Message from the Household: “What we miss most about Hersh is simply his uplifting presence,” his mother and father associated. “We miss his presence each second of day by day.”
Omer Neutra | Fanatic Knicks Fan from Lengthy Island
Twin US-Israeli Citizen | IDF Soldier
Meet Omer: Omer Neutra, 22, was born in Plainview, NY to American-Israeli mother and father Orna and Ronen. Described as “immediately lighting up a room” along with his friendliness and compassion, Omer can be a sports activities fan and athlete: obsessive about the Knicks, and taking part in soccer, basketball and volleyball in highschool.
After highschool, Omer was accepted to Binghamton College, however determined to take a niche yr and examine in Israel. Immersing himself in Israeli tradition, Omer developed a love for Israel and its historical past. And as a descendant of Holocaust survivors, he felt compelled to offer again to the Jewish folks and the Jewish state. With future on his shoulders, he enlisted within the Israel Protection Forces as a lone soldier.
October seventh and Past: When Hamas invaded, Omer was stationed close to Gaza with the mission of defending the border communities. He was final heard from on Oct. 6, when, in a telephone dialog along with his mother and father, he described his hope for a soothing weekend after a worrying month of service. The very subsequent morning, he was one of many first responders to the fear onslaught, already in his tank when a whole lot of Hamas missiles started raining down on Israeli villages.
Hamas fired a rocket-propelled grenade at Omer’s tank, forcing him and the three younger males with him out and into the open. It was an ambush; Hamas kidnapped all of them to Gaza.
Message from the Household: “Our sense of time has been misplaced,” say Omer’s mother and father. “We’re caught on October sixth, in our final dialog with Omer earlier than he was taken hostage.
They name on everybody to “get up each morning and ask yourselves: ‘what can I do at this time on behalf of Omer and all the hostages?’”
