Third consecutive year: Yom Kippur prayers at Hostages Square

Hostages Square in Tel Aviv will host Yom Kippur prayers for the third consecutive year, with participation from bereaved families, wounded individuals, and returned hostages. This year, following the return of the hostages, the focus of the prayer is gratitude for their return, remembrance of the fallen, and prayer for soldiers and unity.

Hostages Square at the Tel Aviv Museum plaza will host Yom Kippur prayers for the third consecutive year, including Kol Nidre, Yizkor, and Ne'ilah services. The event will be attended by bereaved families, families of the wounded, families of returned hostages, rabbis, and a wide public. During the years of war, the square has become a space bridging religious, secular, and traditional communities. This year, after the return of the hostages, the prayer will be dedicated to gratitude for the return of the living, remembrance of those murdered and fallen in captivity, and prayer for IDF soldiers and the healing of the wounded. Merav Leshem Gonen, mother of Romi Gonen who returned from Hamas captivity, stated that this year they return to the square with a renewed mission: to bless the return of the living hostages, to honor the spirits of the fallen who were brought back, to strengthen the families of security forces, to embrace the families of bereavement and the wounded, and to continue seeking unity among the people. Leshem and Rabbi Eldar stated that the square was a place where people from all walks of society stood side by side in prayer and hope, and that 'togetherness' is part of the ability to continue living together even when people are different and disagree.