By COLlive reporter

Out of sight, but not out of mind.

That was the message that relatives of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza told members of Congress and the Senate during a special momentous bipartisan event in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

Organized by Chabad in Israel, led by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Aharonov, the relatives flew to the United States to pray at the Rebbe’s Ohel in New York and then lobby in Washington, DC.

While 4,000 miles away from Israel, their minds and hearts were with their loved ones who were brutally taken by Arab terrorists on Simchas Torah – October 7.

Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, spouses, and children held up posters of the hostages, sharing their heart-wrenching stories. Speaking with members of the Senate and Congress, they pleaded for support to help free their family members and bring them home safely in the fight against Hamas.

Here is the testimony and stories shared by 7 relatives.

1. She only wants to see her daughter

“This is my son, Avinatan Or, and his girlfriend, Noa Avgamani, the son of Yaakov. Her mother is fighting cancer in a very bad situation. She only wants to see her daughter before she leaves this world.”

2. A hole in the heart

“My English is not so good, but I know that you can feel my feelings. Since October 7, we have a big hole in our heart. And you, U.S., you can bring the peace. You can do everything to bring them home. Segev is missing, and we don’t know what happened to him. And we want to thank you for all the support and all the things that you do. But you have to bring them home now, safe and sound. It’s not just Israel-Hamas war. It’s a world war. And the West is next. So please, bring them home now.

3. Seven relatives in captivity

“My name is Shai. 7 members of our family is in Gaza, 3 of them was murdered, they were all together at the holiday in Be’eri. My uncle was murdered, his wife with his child and her child who are 3 and 8 years old and my father’s sister with her daughter Noam who is 12 years old, there are 7 members of our family there, please do whatever you can to bring them home, thank you.”

4. My name isn’t important

“My name is Roger Marshall. I’m from the state of Kansas and my name’s not important today. What are important are the names of 170 family members that are represented here today. And this is Alex’s sister.”

(Crying uncontrollably.) “Alex is my big brother. He just went to go to work and come back. His wife is six months pregnant, and they have two children and his wife is home alone.”

5. No day, no night

“My name is Tiggy, Eliya Cohen’s mother. Eliya was kidnapped from the Nova Party. I know that he’s hurt on his leg because they shot him, the terrorists shot him, they threw an RPG to the shelter that he was [in]. And from this moment we don’t know anything about him. And I ask you, I’m asking you – 38 days that we don’t know anything about them. We have no day and no night. We’re not eating. All of these families are very worried about their sons and their daughters. And we ask from you, please, please, please do anything to bring them back now. Today.”

6. Never came back from work

“This is not about politics. This is about humanity. This is about a guy that goes to work to support his family and never came back home. I just want to say that the nightmare that our family is going through and the nightmare that all the families are going through must stop today.”

7. My son’s birthday is tomorrow

“This is Tamir. Tamir is my son. Tomorrow he’s celebrating his 19th birthday and we are sending free yellow balloons tomorrow. And don’t forget that Israel is the shield against terror and she is the country that protects Europe from Hamas, from Hezbollah, from Iran. Don’t forget it.”