A rally in support of the hostages was held Friday at Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate, as observant Jews observed a day of fasting on the tenth day of the Hebrew calendar month of Tevet to mark the siege of Jerusalem that resulted in the destruction of the First Temple.
The rally attracted a mostly religious crowd and was sponsored by a number of organizations, including Tel Aviv’s HaAchim restaurant, which became a civic group since October 7, 2023, as well as the organizations Fourth Quarter, HaShomer HaChadash, Shomrim Al Habayit of Jerusalem and others.
Sarit Zussman, mother of Ben Zussman, who was killed December 3 during fighting in Gaza, spoke about her roots in Jerusalem.
To not miss any of the news,
receive the Daily Headline on your email
By registering, you agree to the terms of use
“My grandfather was born inside these walls and I live not far from here,” Zussman said.
“We believe because we are believers,” she continued.
“We believe there is hope, otherwise we would not come together and hope. We stand beside these ramparts because this fast is linked to the intention to repair. »
Siggi Cohen, mother of hostage Eliya Cohen, during a rally in support of the hostages at Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, January 10, 2025. (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)
“We lost people and that’s how we got to know them; people we never got to meet, it’s really painful. There are still 98 people who can be saved. »
This rally focused on solidarity within Israeli society.
Ilai David, brother of hostage Eviatar David, called for the creation of Israel’s most moral and loving society to welcome the hostages upon their return.
“The families of the hostages represent a microcosm of Israeli society,” he said.
He sent a message to his brother, who was held hostage at the Nova music festival, telling him that the family supported and cared for each other.
-“We know you’re alive and you’ll come home. I imagine you hugging our parents and playing the guitar while I play the piano. You will come back, you will study sound production, you will travel and you will start a family. »
Siggi Cohen, mother of Eliya Cohen, taken hostage in the shelter outside the music festival with hostages Or Levy, Alon Ohel and Hersh Goldberg-Polin, said Oct. 7 was the biggest disaster, with so many dead and hostages and soldiers killed.
“And why? Because we were a disunited society, unable to accept one another, we were a weak and hostile society and the enemy took advantage of that. »
She described meeting all of Eliya’s friends over the past year, “some with tattoos and without tattoos, haredim and Ethiopians, married and single, and they all love him.”
“I wonder what he knows more than us.” I hope he comes back and tells us how he does it. In the meantime, we will do our best to be patient with all types of people. »
As the names of each hostage were read aloud at the Jaffa Gate, some people responded “Amen” after each name.
Roy Baruch, the brother of Uriel Baruch, whose body was taken from Gaza after he was killed trying to flee the Nova festival, spoke about his beliefs.
Roy Baruch (fourth from left) at a rally in support of the hostages, outside Jaffa Gate, in Jerusalem, January 10, 2025. (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)
He spoke of the need to learn lessons from the destruction of the First Temple, due to rifts between the ancient Israelites, which is commemorated today – the tenth day of the month of Tevet – by religious Jews on this day of fasting.
“The families of the hostages are part of all of us, their pain is ours and their cries are ours,” Baruch said.
“This day of fasting reminds us of an important lesson. We must fight to bring the hostages home. Let us pray for the past and for the future. »
At the end of the rally, the crowd was asked to stop and think about a hostage and where they might be right now, and to turn to someone they don’t know to tell them who and what he was thinking about.
