After delivering a heartfelt address at the UN Security Council, former hostage Eli Sharabi arrived early on Shabbos morning at Park East Orthodox Synagogue in Manhattan.
Approximately 2,000 people gathered at the shul to meet Sharabi and offer their good wishes. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was also present to greet Sharabi on his release.
Longtime members of the congregation remarked on how tightly packed the shul was, saying, “not even a pin could fit inside.” They pointed out that the crowd was the largest since the shul‘s founding in 1890.
Sharabi’s speech moved the audience profoundly, and many in the crowd were brought to tears. “I will not rest or stay silent until I bring back all my brothers who remain captive in the tunnels. That’s why I went to the UN, why I flew just weeks after emerging from the tunnels. That’s why I met with President Trump in the Oval Office and why I met with the British Prime Minister right after. That’s why I’m here in front of you,” Sharabi said.
The congregation stood in unison, clapping and chanting “Bring them home.” Many attendees were visibly emotional, including Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the shul‘s rabbi and a Holocaust survivor, who was celebrating his 95th birthday that Shabbos. Sharabi approached him, kissed him on the cheek, and the moment was described by those present as “breathtaking.”
Just three days before this emotional gathering, Sharabi had delivered a gripping speech at the UN Security Council, recounting the horrifying experiences he endured while held captive in Gaza. He spoke about the physical and mental torment, the theft of international aid by Hamas operatives, and the lack of support he received.
Sharabi recalled the dire conditions he faced, sharing: “They fed me a piece of pita bread a day and a cup of tea. The hunger consumed everything. They beat me. They broke my ribs. I didn’t care—I just wanted a piece of bread.” He also recounted how Hamas denied him and the other captives access to basic needs like food and water, while Hamas militants freely consumed the aid meant for the people of Gaza.
He further detailed the chilling moment when a Hamas terrorist showed him a picture of his brother, Yossi, and told him he had been killed. “It felt like they had dropped a giant hammer on me. I refused to believe it,” Sharabi shared. When he reached the location where he was finally released, he encountered a Red Cross representative for the first time after 491 days. “She told me, ‘Don’t worry, you’re safe now.’ Safe? Where was the Red Cross for 491 days?” he asked.
Sharabi’s address to the UN Security Council was direct and unflinching. “For 491 days, I starved, I was shackled, and I begged for my humanity. During all that time, no one came. No one in Gaza helped me,” he stated. He made it clear that the residents of Gaza, who were aware of the suffering of the hostages, did nothing to intervene.
{Matzav.com}

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