Ex-hostage on cover of TIME magazine
Eli Sharabi, a former Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, is featured on the cover of TIME magazine that hit newsstands on Oct. 27. An excerpt of his memoir, documenting his survival of 491 days of captivity in the Strip, was published online on Oct. 1.
Free therapy
Non-profit Planetherapy provides free therapy sessions to Israelis and Jews affected by Oct. 7 2023. 300+ volunteers from 35 countries, have provided 4,000+ therapy sessions in 22 languages. A dozen therapists are in Israel, counseling first responders, trauma therapists, Nova festival survivors and others.
Building & rebuilding
Since Oct. 7 2023, Israeli non-profit Livnot U’Lehibanot (“To build and to be built” – see previously) has focused on restoring homes damaged in border communities in the north and south. Livnot has completed more than 320 projects in dozens of these communities, with many more underway.
VR video becomes reality
Israeli pop star Yoni Bloch created the music video “Sof Tov” (Happy Ending) in Jan 2025 using AI & Virtual Reality to depict the hostages returning from Gaza. 9 months later, Bloch remade the viral video with real-life scenes of the hostages returning, to mirror the previous scenes of hope.
(Original AI VR Jan 2025)
(New real-life Oct 2025)
Hostages became religious
Most of the ex-hostages were completely secular before being kidnapped, but conducted Jewish practices during their ordeals. Some kept Shabbat; some refused food on religious fast days. Bar Kuperstein simulated putting on tefillin; others prayed. And most have maintained those practices since.
She said “Yes”
At his graduation ceremony, an IDF soldier stole the spotlight with a heartfelt proposal—dropping to one knee before his girlfriend as his fellow soldiers erupted in dance and cheers around them.
Aliyah Day
Officially the 10th of the Hebrew month of Nissan (when the Israelites entered the Land), Aliyah Day is celebrated at this time of year - on the 6th or 7th of the Hebrew month of Marcheshvan to coincide with the Torah reading of Lech Lecha, when Abraham was commanded to go to the Land of Israel.
(celebration at Tel Aviv’s ANU museum)
From Ethiopia, to New York, to Jerusalem
Ethiopian-born scholar Dr. Shmuel Legasse has represented the Knesset abroad and worked with Jewish and interfaith communities across Africa, the US and Israel. “Our diversity is our greatest diplomatic asset,” he says. His mentor was Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (z”l).
Ministers quoting the Torah
Interesting article – maybe inferring that Israel is becoming more “Jewish”?
Ex-hostage leads mass tefillin event
Hamas captivity survivor Bar Kuperstein called on the public at Tel Aviv’s Hostages’ Square to join a mass tefillin-laying event before Shabbat. He gave “a huge thanks to everyone for your prayers, your support, and everything you’ve done for me and for all the other hostages.”