‘Out of darkness’: Freed hostages lead Hanukkah candle-lightings
Emily Damari, Gali and Ziv Berman light menorah together, share video of dancing; four freed surveillance soldiers lead lighting ceremony
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As Israel marked the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, some of the freed hostages who were released over the past year shared moments from their own celebrations.
At the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Segev Kalfon — who was held hostage in Gaza for 738 days, before being among the last 20 living hostage returned to Israel on October 13 — lit the first candle at the holy site’s central menorah.
“To stand here and say thank you is a gift beyond measure. The first candle symbolizes the small spark that can conquer great darkness. A light that’s small, but real,” Kalfon said.
“When I came out of captivity, the light almost blinded me, the light of people who worried about me and prayed for me, people who didn’t know me but put my name in their heart,” he continued.
“But I stand here for the one who’s still there, for Ran Gvili,” Kalfon went on, naming the last hostage whose body remains in Gaza.
“For him, this light is still burning. For him, we’ll make sure this light doesn’t go out. Our light is the thread that will pull him back home.”
Emily Damari, who was released in January 2025, shared a clip on social media of her and her two close friends Gali and Ziv Berman — twin brothers who were also taken hostage and were released, alongside Kalfon, in October — lighting a menorah, pronouncing the traditional blessings, and dancing together.
חג של ניסים. שורדי השבי אמילי דמארי וגלי וזיוי ברמן מדליקים יחד נר ראשון. כמה טוב שאתם בבית ???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/pRXHOIzeJH
— A dios Le pido ???? (@Yaronara) December 14, 2025
Separately, the four female surveillance soldiers Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, who were released in the same January deal as Damari, lit a menorah together on Sunday night, in footage shared by Israeli media.
Matan Angrest, an IDF soldier who was freed from Gaza in October, lit a large menorah outside the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, bearing the logo of the Israel Defense Forces’ 7th Armored Brigade.
“My wish for everyone is that the light triumphs over the darkness, that this menorah we’ve lit will light up the whole State of Israel,” he said.
Omer Shem Tov, who was freed in January, said in a video shared by the Government Press Office: “God willing, we’ll be much more lit-up, united, and stronger together.”
In the same video, Evyatar David, released from Gaza in October, said: “We went out of darkness into light, to celebrate the holiday with our families, with the nation of Israel.”
Eli Sharabi, who was also released in January, said in the same clip: “I chose life, in order to spread light for the sake of the unity of Israel, and our soldiers.”
On Sunday, President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, held a candle lighting alongside freed hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel, Matan Angrest, Shlomi Ziv, Noralin Babadilla, Margalit Mozes, Clara Merman, Moran Stella Yanai, and Gabriella and Mia Lemberg.
Rom Braslavski, who was taken captive from the Nova music festival and released in October, attended a Hanukkah event at the Jewish Old Age Home in Rome, Italy on Sunday.
For the occasion, Braslavski met Italian Auschwitz survivor Sami Modiano, and the two lit the menorah together.
The Times of Israel Community.