In a powerful and deeply emotional gathering at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Friday, Bar Kupershtein, a survivor of Hamas captivity, turned the stage into a moment of kiddush Hashem and Jewish strength. Before a crowd of thousands, he wrapped himself in a tallis, placed tefillin on his arm, and recited Shema Yisroel in a loud, unwavering voice.
“There were very difficult moments during those two years,” Kupershtein shared. “But I knew I couldn’t lose myself. I saw my captors praying in Arabic — and against the backdrop of their murders, I realized that I had to pray even more. If they were praying for death, I would pray for life.”
He described how his bond with Hashem sustained him throughout the ordeal: “At first, I prayed silently — in my heart, in my stomach, from deep inside, where the soul resides. Later, when we were finally allowed to pray aloud, we made the tunnels tremble with our voices.”
His words reached a crescendo as he declared, “I am certain that faith is what brought me out of there. Thank You, Ribbono shel Olam.”
The crowd was overcome with emotion, responding with prolonged applause and tears.
The event, attended by Israel’s former Chief Rabbi, Rav David Lau, reflected the growing spiritual awakening and faith that have taken root since the war began — the resilience of tefillah, simple emunah, and the unbreakable connection to Hashem even under the harshest conditions.
In a particularly stirring moment, Bar’s father joined him on stage, donning a tallis and joining his son in reciting Shema Yisroel together.
Kupershtein concluded by announcing that the square would become a permanent site — “Bar-Tefillin” — a place where anyone who wishes can come to put on tefillin and pray.
{Matzav.com}
