From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Conservative Jews fast in Hostages Square in pre-Purim prayer event for release of captives from Gaza
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleCanaan Lidor is a former Jewish World reporter at The Times of Israel
Several dozen people attend a prayer at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square organized by the Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism to mark the Fast of Esther.
The event, in which participants are praying for the return of the hostages held in Gaza, is part of the Masorti movement’s activities for the Jewish holiday of Purim, which begins this weekend.
On Sunday, members of the Masorti movement plan to read the Book of Esther at the square and prepare mishloach manot — packages with sweets and delicacies that Jews are traditionally exchange on Purim — containing some of the hostages’ favorite treats, a spokesperson for the movement says.
Among the participants in today’s prayer event led by Rabbi Natalie Lesterger is Yarden Gonen, a sister of hostage Romi Gonen.
The Times of Israel Community.