Bar Kupershtein Leads Hostages Square Thanksgiving and Selichot Gathering

Captivity survivor Bar Kupershtein led a thanksgiving and Selichot gathering at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Thursday night, one year after his return. Fellow captivity survivors joined bereaved families and relatives of deceased hostages, with Julie Kupershtein and Riki Siton opening the event. Former chief rabbi Israel Meir Lau and survivor Rom Braslavski participated, and ElaytZur performed “The Last War,” a song he co-wrote with Kupershtein. Organizers also linked live to the Western Wall with Ayelet Samerano, mother of Yonatan Samerano, and Michel Ilouz, father of Guy Ilouz; Kupershtein said faith had sustained the captives.