Thousands gather at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square for services on the third intermediate day of Sukkot.
There, they chant the Hallel, a collection of Psalms recited in Jewish liturgy on major holidays to praise God for miracles and salvation, and shake palm fronds held with myrtle and willow branches, and the citron — making up the four species used during the holiday.
Men and women are seated separately for services at the square, as is customary in Orthodox Judaism.
Dani Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran, is present, alongside the cousin of slain hostage Omer Neutra. Rabbi Chaim Gantz and Rabbi Dov Singer, representing different streams of Orthodox Judaism, are present to support the hostages’ families, as well.
There is a spirit of celebration at the square, with live music accompanying the morning service, as well as a sense of intention, of praying for the remaining hostages to return home safely.
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