Today is a day of hope and, we pray, the beginning of healing for the hostages, their families and all of Israel.  

For 738 days, 48 out of 250 people kidnapped from Israel have been held in captivity by Hamas terrorists, in horrific conditions.   

Through 18 major Jewish holidays and 105 Shabbat dinners, Jewish families in Israel, in Pittsburgh and around the world had empty chairs at our tables, yellow ribbons on our lapels, and fractures in our hearts.  

Today we rejoice as the 20 surviving hostages come home to their loved ones and finally fill the empty chairs at our tables and begin mending our broken hearts. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and Jews everywhere celebrate this long-awaited moment of relief and joy, standing in solidarity with the families and the people of Israel.  

We welcome the long-awaited return of:   

1. Matan Angrest  
2. Gali Berman  
3. Ziv Berman  
4. Elkana Bohbot   
5. Rom Braslavski   
6. Avinatan Or   
7. Yosef-Haim Ohana   
8. Alon Ohel   
9. Evyatar David   
10. Guy Gilboa-Dalal   
11. Omri Miran   
12. Eitan Mor   
13. Segev Kalfon   
14. Nimrod Cohen   
15. Maxim Herkin   
16. Eitan Horn   
17. Bar Kupershtein   
18. Matan Zangauker   
19. Ariel Cunio   
20. David Cunio  

Here in Pittsburgh, Alon Ohel holds a special place in our hearts. As a resident of Misgav, our Partnership2Gether region, his long and painful captivity has deeply touched our community. We are overjoyed that he has been released and has been reunited with his loved ones. Our thoughts remain with him, his family and his community. 

We also mourn the indelible loss of 28 people who faced down Hamas with heroism and bravery but did not survive captivity, whose bodies are expected to return home in the coming hours and days. We pray for their families and loved ones to be able to give them the proper burial they deserve. May they be comforted among all the mourners of Zion.   

We honor the resilience of the hostages and their families and continue to pray for all whose lives have been shattered by terror. They built their cause into a social movement that has garnered support across the globe and never wavered.  

We also take this moment to recognize the enormous sacrifice and service of Israel’s soldiers and their families, who put their time, their economic wellbeing, their bodies, and their lives on the line to protect Israel during this horrific period. We mourn the loss of 915 soldiers who died as they fought successfully to get the hostages home and defeat Israel’s enemies.   

We are grateful to all parties whose tireless efforts made this day possible.  

May this moment mark the beginning of comfort and renewal for the people of Israel and the Jewish people everywhere.