Traditional Megillah reading at the Hostages' Square in Tel Aviv
(Video: Satview)
With the start of the traditional Jewish holiday of Purim, 134 Israeli hostages are still held in captivity in the Gaza Strip, most of them facing mortal danger. To mark the occasion, a reading of the Megillah (Book of Esther) is being held In the Hostages’ Square – in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art’s main plaza – on Saturday, headed by the Tzohar Rabbinical organization.
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Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, the Tzohar Rabbinical organization and the Yachad imitative under the Ohr Torah Stone Orthodox movement will hold readings of the Megillah in 700 different venues throughout Israel during the holiday.
Tens of thousands of Israelis are expected to gather on Saturday and on Shushan Purim for events organized as part of the Megillah in the Community initiative including in hotels housing evacuees, IDF bases in Gaza, and at hundreds of other locations.
The events held by the project, operating for the 13th consecutive year, are taking place this year with special arrangements made amid the Gaza war, where thousands of Israelis are still evacuated from their homes and many IDF soldiers are fighting in the south, north, and the West Bank.
All of the events are held free of charge, as a service to the general public. In addition to the Megillah reading, tens of thousands of Mishloach Manot (Purim gift baskets) and decorated Megillah scrolls will also be distributed.
Rabbi David Stav, chairman of the Tzohar Rabbinical organization, said, "This year, we’re directing all of our joy toward good things, and there are some even in this situation. It’s important for us to help anyone who needs our attention - we embrace the hostages’ families, make merry with the wounded, and try to extend hope to the bereaved families. We’ll make every effort to ensure that our joy will be directed to everyone around us who needs our help."
Head of the Ohr Torah Stone Orthodox movement, Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander, added: "This year, we arrive at the Purim holiday after facing difficult months of fighting and heavy losses, when many Israelis are far from their homes, but also while understanding of the strength of our unity.”
Ziv Abud, fiance of Israeli hostage Eliya Cohen, in the Hotages' Square
(Video: Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
“The reading of the Megillah, which is part of our collective story, gives us the opportunity to gather in various locations - in synagogues, in hotels, in IDF bases, in war zones, in yeshivot, in parks - and find the strength and resilience in the holiday’s spirit, which reminds us of the victory of our faith against those who seek to destroy us."