An Evening to Remember the Hostages

Emily Shapiro, one of our long-time educators who is overseeing Israel programming this kayitz, sends this update:

This past Saturday night, following Rosh Chodesh Av, was a fitting time for us to focus our attention on the plight of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. I worked with our Israeli mishlachat to organize an evening of song and prayer for tzevet (staff).  In addition to the camp staff, Nivonim campers were also invited to join the event.

Kochavim counselor Shir Gurtenberg opened the evening with a dedication to his friend Tamir Nimrodi (age 20), an IDF educational NCO who was taken from the Nachal Oz base on October 7th. Shir expressed his gratitude to be surrounded by so many counselors and campers and to be able to share his story.

After reciting a special “misheberach” for the hostages and reading aloud their Hebrew names, we joined together in a number of moving Israeli songs led by Modi Hershkowitz, Yuval Rosen, and Yonatan Dror.  You can watch some clips in the video above.

To conclude the event, everyone decorated a butterfly – a symbol of freedom and hope – to attach to a collaborative plaque that will continue to remind us of the importance to Bring Them Home.