Each week, until they are all returned home, Park Avenue Synagogue dedicates the mitzvah of hadlakat nerot Shabbat, lighting Shabbat candles, to an individual held in captivity in Gaza.
Arbel Yehud (28)
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Arbel Yehud, 28, a third-generation resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, is known as “the favorite aunt” and has a passion for space and astronomy.
Carmel Gat (39)
Carmel Gat, 39, an occupational therapist, was abducted from her family home in Kibbutz Be’eri, along with her mother Kinneret, her brother Alon, her sister-in-law Yarden Roman, and Geffen, Alon and Yarden’s 3-year-old daughter.
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liri albag (18)
Liri Albag, 18, was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz IDF base on the Gaza border, where she served as a surveillance soldier.
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ziv and gali berman (26)
Twins Ziv and Gali Berman, 26 were abducted from Kfar Aza. They have been inseparable most their lives, working together & traveling the world together.
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romi gonen (23)
Romi Gonen, 23, was taken from the Supernova music festival in Re’im. She is described as a strong, happy type who knows how to take care of herself. She was a former Scouts counselor who often went to raves.
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Daniella Gilboa (19)
Daniella Gilboa, 19, was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz Base while serving as an observation soldier at the IDF 414th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit.
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agam berger (19)
Agam Berger, 19, also known as “Gagi,” was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz IDF Base, where she served as a communications lookout. It was her first weekend on the base. Berger’s family describes her as a talented violinist who volunteered to support special populations, assisting children with learning difficulties or challenges at home.
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karina ariev (19)
Karina Ariev, a 19-year-old surveillance soldier, was abducted from the Nahal Oz IDF Base. Ariev’s family describes her as a gentle girl with a big heart who takes care of everything.
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Eden yerushalmo (24)
Eden Yerushalmi, 24, was taken from the Supernova music festival and has since celebrated her birthday in captivity. She is a bartender from Tel Aviv, described by her sisters as the girl everyone loves, “always happy, always laughing.”
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guy gilboa-dalal (22)
Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 22, was taken hostage from the Supernova music festival. He loves Japan; he taught himself to speak Japanese and plans to travel there one day.
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itzik elgarat (69)
Itzik Elgarat, 69, was in his Kibbutz Nir Oz home on the morning of October 7 when Hamas terrorists attacked his home, shooting him through his safe room door, injuring him, and taking him captive. He has citizenship from Denmark and two children who live there.
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Amit buskila (28)
Amit Buskila, 28 was taken hostage from the Supernova music festival and was heard begging terrorists not to take her. She is a fashion stylists with thousands of social media followers and a great cook.
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hersh goldberg-polin (23)
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American, was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival. His mother, Rachel, describes him as gentle and kind and always finding creative ways to improve things and connect with other human beings.
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Naama levy (19)
Naama Levy, 19, was seen in a video being dragged by her long hair at gunpoint into Gaza. She is a soldier at Nahal Oz. Described by her mother, she embodies all that is good in the world and everything that those evil enough to hold her hostage do not.
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Noa Argamani (26)
Noa Argamani, 26, was kidnapped at the Supernova music festival; her terminally-ill mother has pleaded for her release on news stations around the world.
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OhaD Ben Ami (55)
Ohad Ben Ami, 55 is level-headed and serious, but still has great sense of humor; he is talented at solving problems.
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Avanitan Or (30)
Avinatan Or, 30 an electrical engineer and a fantastic cook, was taken from the Super Nova festival.
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Doron SteiNbrecher (30)
Doron Steinbrecher, 30, is a veterinarian nurse with true passion for animals. She was taken from her apartment at Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
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Chaim peri (79), yoram metzger (80), Amiram Cooper (84)
We are highlighting three of the older hostages, that many of you may have seen the video that Hamas recently released. Together we can keep, Chaim Peri, 79, a film lecturer; Yoram Metzger, 80, who, worked in the Nirlat factory and Amiram Cooper, 84, one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz in our hearts.
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Eitan (37) and yair horn (45)
Brothers Eitan (37) and Yair Horn (45) were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Eitan had come from his home in Kfar Saba to visit his older brother, Yair, for the holiday weekend. The family immigrated from Argentina years ago. Eitan is an educator and Yair works in construction and organizes parties and holiday activities with the Kibbutz. They’re also very involved uncles.
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Judith Weinstein (70) and Gad Haggai (72)
Judith Weinstein (70) and Gad Haggai (72) were on their morning walk when gunfire erupted. Haggai is a retired chef and jazz musician and Weinstein is a retired teacher. They raised their children at the Kibbutz Nir Oz.
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THE BIBAS FAMILY – KFIR (10 MONTHS), ARIEL (4), SHIRI (32), AND YARDEN (34)
In a video seen around the world, the Bibas family was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The video shows images of Shiri, distressed, holding her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, while being taken by Hamas, while Yarden was shot and injured. The two boys are the last and youngest children to be held hostage.
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TAMIR ADAR
Tamir Adar, 38, is a loving husband and father. He was part of the Kibbutz Nir Oz emergency squad, and after sealing his family into their safe room, he ran out to fight Hamas terrorists. His 85-year-old grandmother Yaffa, a holocaust survivor, who was also kidnapped on October 7, was released over the past week.
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Ditza HEiman (RELEASED)
Ditza Heiman, 84, who worked a a social worker until she was 80, was taken from the Nir Oz kibbutz, where she has lived for decades and played an important part in community life. Her family describes her as a beloved great-grandmother and, “A woman of peace who is full of compassion and wisdom.”
All images © 2023 Elisa Bray Writer The JC | Full article
Alex Dancyg
Alex Dancyg, 75, a Holocaust historian who has written books on Poland’s Jewish community and the systematic murder of Jews during the Second World War, was taken from the Nir Oz kibbutz.
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YAIR YAAKOV, MEIRAV TAL (RELEASED) AND FAMILY
Yair Yaakov and his girlfriend, Meirav Tal (who has since been released), were kidnapped from Nir Oz. They were in a bomb shelter, which was infiltrated by terrorists, from where they were taken to Gaza. Yair's two sons, Or and Yagil, had been with their mother nearby in another bomb shelter on the kibbutz and were also taken by Hamas.
All images © 2023 Yaniv Yaakov Opinion contributor USA TODAY | Full article