Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 22, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Freed hostages take part in Havdalah service at Beilinson Hospital, hours after release
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Aharon Rabi, the grandfather of freed hostage Eliya Cohen, leads a Havdalah service marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath for Cohen and fellow freed hostages Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert, at Beilinson Hospital, February 22, 2025. (Haim Zach/GPO)
Hours after being freed from Hamas captivity, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert participate in the Havdalah service, marking the end of Shabbat.
Cohen’s grandfather, Aharon Rabi, leads the joyful service with relatives of the freed hostages, IDF officers, and hospital staff looking on.
“Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion,” Rabi says as he embraces his grandson.
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