From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 10, 2025
Hostage rally held at Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate as attendees mark minor Jewish fast
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
A rally for the hostages is being held at Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate as people observe a minor fast day marking the siege of Jerusalem on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, which culminated in the destruction of the First Temple.
The gathering draws a mostly kippah-wearing crowd and is sponsored by a number of organizations, including Tel Aviv restaurant Haachim which has emerged as a civic group since October 7, 2023, along with organizations Fourth Quarter, Hashomer Hachadash, Jerusalem’s Shomrim Al Habayit and others.
Sarit Zussman, mother of Ben Zussman, who was killed on December 3 while fighting in Gaza, speaks about her Jerusalem roots.
“My grandfather was born inside these walls and I live not far from here,” says Zussman.
“We believe because we’re believing people,” she continues. “We believe that there is hope or we wouldn’t rally and hope. We stand next to these walls because the fast is about the intention to fix.”
“We’ve lost people and that’s how we learned about them, people we never got to meet, it’s truly painful. There are people, 98 people who can still be saved.”
