Moriah middle school students sat spellbound on the last day of Chanukah as Moriah parent, Leat Unger, told the story of her cousin, Omer Shem Tov. It was Day 454 of Omer’s captivity in Gaza. Leat recounted the events that led to Omer’s participation in the Nova Festival, and then described the bravery, sacrifice, heroism and loyalty of Omer and his friends as they tried to protect one another from the brutal October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. While Omer remains a hostage, several of those who were in Gaza with him have been released, and they shared with Omer’s family heartbreaking but also uplifting details about Omer’s life in captivity. Leat described Omer and his parents as secular Jews, but explained that Omer loved to make kiddush on Shabbat. As a hostage, Omer and the teen he was held with, worked to keep track of time and the day of the week. They had been given a single bottle of grape juice, and used capfuls of the juice each week, along with the two small pieces of pita they were given each day and salt from a bag of pretzels, to make Kiddush on Friday nights. Miraculously, with the passage of time, Omer’s commitment to shmirat mitzvot grew. He chose to sit in the dark throughout Shabbat rather than make use of the flashlight he had been given. While he had originally planned to get a tattoo following his release, he now sits in captivity with a change of heart, knowing that tattoos are halachically prohibited.

Leat and her family members have dedicated their lives since October 7 to securing the release of Omer and those hostages who remain in captivity with him. They are active participants in a support group for hostage families. Leat left her job and now travels the country telling Omer’s story, and meets regularly with senators and congressmen to plead their case. Omer has now spent two birthdays in captivity. He is 22 years old. Leat asked the students to recite Tehillim 23, one Tehillim older than Omer’s age, with him in mind. Many of the students have taken on a challenge to recite Tehillim 23 every day along with the tefillah for the hostages.  Let us all pray for the release of Omer ben Shelli and all the hostages in the coming days.