Freed Hostage Eli Sharabi Visits Rebbe’s Ohel to Give Thanks

Just hours after testifying before the UN Security Council, Eli Sharabi, recently freed after 491 days in Hamas captivity, visited the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens Thursday evening to give thanks for his survival, pray for the remaining hostages, as he said Kaddish for the first time. He was hosted and welcomed by Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad World Headquarters.

It was his first visit to a Jewish holy site or synagogue since his release and his first time saying Kaddish.

Sharabi’s visit came with deep personal significance: last year, his brother Sharon had come to the Ohel to ask for a blessing “We lost four members of the Sharabi family,” Sharon said. “I came here to ask for a blessing that we wouldn’t receive a fifth coffin. Exactly a year later to the date—Eli came home.”

The brothers were hosted and welcomed at the Ohel by Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky on behalf of Chabad World Headquarters and joined by Rabbi Zalman Wolowik of Chabad of the Five Towns. The visit came hours after he testified before the United Nations Security Council, and weeks after he met with President Trump. But this visit was different. He came to connect, to learn more about the Rebbe, the Shluchim, and to say thank you.

Sharon, a longtime friend of Rabbi Mendy Naftalin, had come to the Ohel last year with hope and desperation. This time, he returned with his brother.

At the Rebbe’s resting place, Eli lit a candle, placed a handwritten letter of thanks, and prayed for the hostages still in Gaza, reading aloud their names. He received a dollar from the Rebbe as a gesture of blessing and protection — organized by Mrs. Chanie Kozliner, who has been devoted to supporting the hostages and their families since October 7.

In a powerful moment, Eli said Kaddish for his brother Yossi—who was murdered in captivity, and whose body is still being held by Hamas—for the first time.

On their way in, Sharabi encountered Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, who was also visiting the Ohel that evening, accompanied by Rabbi Zalman Duchman of Colel Chabad. The two embraced each other and wished each other success in their efforts to advocate for the Jewish people.

Though Eli does not identify as religious, he spoke about the role of faith in keeping him alive. “I came from the darkest place in the world — 50 meters underground,” he said. “What gave me strength was saying Shema Yisrael every morning. Every Friday night, we tried to make Kiddush. We didn’t have wine, so we used water. It was the faith that kept us alive.”

During captivity, he held onto hope that he would be reunited with his family. Only after his release did he learn the devastating truth: his wife and two daughters had been murdered on October 7th.

He and his brother spent time in conversation with Rabbis Kotlarsky and Wolowik about the Rebbe’s teachings — his personal care for every Jew, his connection to the Land of Israel, and the tremendous efforts of the Shluchim to reach Jews wherever they are. They spoke about the continued work of Chabad in Israel and around the world since October 7.

“The unity that Eli has been calling for — you could see it here,” said Rabbi Kotlarsky. “People of every background have been coming to the Ohel to pray on his behalf and on behalf of all the hostages. It’s been happening since day one.”

Since October 7, representatives have been coming to the Ohel every single day — praying by name for the hostages. Eli’s visit marked a moment where months of prayer were realized.

Outside the Ohel, a woman approached Eli and told him she had been coming every Thursday night since October 7 to pray for him and the other hostages. “This is why I came tonight,” she said. “For you.”

As he left the Ohel, Eli offered a message that carried him through captivity — and continues to drive him forward: “With the power of faith and unity, we can overcome anything.”