Former Hostages Visit the Rebbe’s Ohel in Thanks

On Motzei Shabbos, four recently released Gaza hostages – Segev Kalfon, Matan Angrest, Nimrod Cohen, and Bar Kuperstein – visited the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens to recite a heartfelt prayer of thanks for their safe return. They were accompanied by Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad Headquarters and scholar Rabbi Simon Jacobson.

The trip was arranged by Mendy Naftalin, who has been in touch with the families throughout the ordeal, and worked with them to arrange this trip to the United States, with the assistance of Yarim Cohen and Yael Goren Hezkiya from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky spoke with the former hostages before they entered the Ohel, and noted how in the same place where so many hostages’ families had cried and prayed for their loved ones, they are now coming back to say thank you to G-d for their safe return. He shared that their visit is special, as the Rebbe said that he appreciated when people returned to him to relay good news. Rabbi Simon Jacobson also shared some words of encouragement with the former hostages.

Matan Angrest then spoke, thanking all the people who had been there for him, and said that his return to the Ohel was the fulfillment of a promise he had made: to return and say thank you.

The group then discussed the holiness of the Rebbe’s Ohel, and recognized the opportunity they had to not only pray for themselves, but to connect on a deeper level, before each wrote a personal pan note.

The visit began with reciting the Rebbe’s Kapitel and a Kapitel for all who need blessings, followed by quiet moments of reflection at the resting place.

The evening was described as “uplifting and deeply emotional, with each person taking the time to write a personal note to the Rebbe, in prayer and thanks.”