From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Jerusalemites hold evening of prayer, song in memory of ‘beautiful six’ slain captives
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion speaks at the start of an evening of song and prayer organized by the families of the “beautiful six,” Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Almog Sarusi, Eden Yerushalmi, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Ori Danino, hostages who were killed by their Hamas captors in August 2024.
“We won’t be united or complete if all the hostages aren’t returned home,” says Lion to the applause of the crowd.
“These families paid the highest price,” says Lion, naming all six of the slain captives, whose bodies were recovered by the IDF just days after they were slain in Gaza.
“These hostages are the painful proof that we don’t have time to wait. How much longer can Rom Braslavski, a resident of this city, keep surviving?” Lion asks of another captive.
Ziv Braslavski, around 13, speaks at the event about how he misses his oldest brother and going to Beitar soccer games with him.
“I don’t miss any soccer game but Ram has missed many, I miss him so,” he says. “It doesn’t matter what team you root for, Beitar or Hapoel, we’re all brothers, we’re all people. This week, we mark Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut but in our house, we can’t mark independence as long as Rom isn’t home. Rom, I miss you and I promise you’ll be home soon, stay strong.”
Jon Polin, the father of Hersh, thanks the crowd of hundreds for all the support now and always.
“Let us be together in song, prayer and hope for the hostages,” he says.
“Come, our family, come, our city, come, our country, our nation, our hostages, let’s sing and pray all of us together, come,” says Rachel Goldberg-Polin.
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