From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Hostage relatives, former captives seen at Western Wall selichot service
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleRossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.
Several former hostages and family members of remaining hostages joined a “selichot” prayer event at the Western Wall ahead of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Monday at sunset, The Hostage and Missing Families Forum says.
The group reveals the contents of a note left in the Western Wall by Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage in Gaza,
“My God, I have one prayer to You: For the return of the 48 hostages to the land of Israel
and for the return of the IDF soldiers to the safety of their homes. Am Yisrael Chai [The people of Israel live],” the note reads.
The “selichot” service consists of a litany of penitential and supplicant prayers. The service is held nightly between midnight and dawn in the period before Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement (which falls on October 1-2). Sephardi Jews recite it beginning a month before Rosh Hashanah, while Ashkenazi Jews start the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah.
Captivity survivors Ilana Gritzewsky and Noga Weiss, who were released in November 2023, and Dani Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran, also joined the service, according to the Hostage Family Forum.
A selichot service was also held at the Hostage Square in Tel Aviv.
Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are holding 48 hostages, including 47 of the 251 abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. They include the bodies of at least 26 confirmed dead by the IDF. Twenty are believed to be alive and there are grave concerns for the well-being of two others, Israeli officials have said. Also held is the body of an IDF soldier killed in 2014.
The Times of Israel Community.