‘Enough, God Almighty, have mercy’: Hostage families pray for an imminent deal

Hostages’ family members, released hostages and several bereaved relatives speak at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square in an event full of prayer and song, given the headlines about a possible imminent hostage deal.

Julie Kuperstein, mother of hostage Bar Kuperstein, says she “can’t get excited yet,” saying she learned this from freed hostage Elena Trufanov, as she waited to see if her son, Sasha Trufanov, would himself be released in February 2025.

Sasha Trufanov, the released hostage, speaks about the power of the high holidays, and is joined by fellow captivity survivor Agam Berger, who performs the liturgical prayer “Ana b’Koach,” on her violin.

Elhanan Danino, the father of Ori Danino, killed at the end of August 2024, in the tunnels of Gaza by his captors, speaks about Yom Kippur, and the liturgy that reflects the great losses and trauma suffered by Israel on October 7.

“Enough, God Almighty, have mercy on your nation who are calling to you,” says Danino.

He notes that while those marking the Yom Kippur fast went home to full refrigerators to sate themselves after the 24-hour fast, the hostages have been fasting for more than 15,000 hours.

“They don’t know what date it is. They don’t know the hour. Every day is Yom Kippur for them,” says Danino. “If we can’t bring them home with ammunition, let’s use our prayers so that the living will sit in the sukkah with their families and the others will be brought to a proper burial.”

Sigi Cohen, mother of released hostage Eliya Cohen, says she feels in her heart that by next week, the stage at Hostages Square will no longer be needed.