From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Oct. 7 survivors, freed hostages sing ‘Hatikva’ at Auschwitz
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
As October 7 survivors, released hostages and hostage family members tour Auschwitz ahead of the start of the March of the Living, they carry Israeli flags and sing “Hatikva” as they walk through the main gate of the concentration camp, infamous for bearing the quote “Arbeit macht frei (Work Sets You Free).”
Kibbutz Be’eri survivor Daniel Weiss, whose parents were killed on October 7, 2023, walks barefoot through the camp while leading the group in song.
“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains, from where does my help come? I will lift up my eyes to the mountains,” sings Weiss, a musician in his 20s.
“O Guardian of Israel, guard the remnant of Israel, and suffer not Israel to perish, who say, Hear, O Israel,” sings the group softly and in unison.
Kibbutz Be’eri survivor Daniel Weiss sings with hostage family members under the gate of Auschwitz on April 23, 2025 (Courtesy)
The group visited the 16th century Remah synagogue in Krakow on Tuesday, where released hostage Agam Berger and her mother, along with Shelly Shem Tov, the mother of released hostage Omer Shem Tov, and Laly Derai, mother of slain soldier Saadia Derai, stood in the courtyard of the Orthodox synagogue.
They sang the Krakow Nigun, the wordless melody composed by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach decades ago when he first visited the ancient synagogue.
Members of the group are also filmed singing Hatikva in Auschwitz Gas Chamber I.
״התקווה״: משלחת שורדי השבי ובני המשפחות בתא הגזים באושוויץ 1. pic.twitter.com/rwyPO6JY9r
— Dov Gil-Har (@DovGilHar) April 23, 2025
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