In his first public appearance since being released on October 12, 2025, from Hamas captivity in a ceasefire deal, Bar Kupershtein joined the weekly rally at Hostages’ Square in Tel Aviv, organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which continues to advocate for bringing back the remaining thirteen hostages still held in Gaza.

After expressing heartfelt gratitude for the tefillos, support, and efforts that helped bring him home and for those still in captivity, Kupershtein surprised the crowd by calling for a mass tefillin laying event this Friday.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for your prayers, your support, and everything you’ve done for me and for all the other hostages. I have no words to describe all the love and what you’re doing for us,” he said.

“I want to invite everyone this Friday at 10:00 a.m. to a mass tefillin laying at the square. I want you all to put on tefillin together with me. My dream while in captivity was to put on tefillin, and we’ll do it for the release of all our brothers who are still there.”

Kupershtein was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, at the Nova music festival near Re’im, where the 21-year-old army medic and festival staff member stayed behind to help the wounded before being taken into Gaza. During his two years in captivity, he drew strength from his emunah, reciting Shema Yisrael in moments of danger and saying a perek of tehilim he knew by heart.

His mother, Julie Kupershtein, shared earlier that his dream upon returning home was to put on tefillin in Hostages’ Square, a wish he now plans to fulfill. Similar inspiration has already sparked achdus worldwide, such as the gathering in Atlanta where dozens joined to wrap tefillin using Bar’s own pair.

The public tefillin laying will take place this Friday at 10:00 a.m. in Hostages’ Square, with Kupershtein inviting all to join to fulfill the dream and daven for the safe return of all our brothers still in captivity.

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