Schechter Students Witness History in Israel

by Abby Marcus, SSLI '29 

On October 13, 2025, the 20 living hostages who had been held in captivity were finally returned home to Israel after Hamas invaded the Gaza Envelope and killed about 1,300 civilians on October 7, 2023. Unfortunately, 251 people were abducted during that attack. Over time, 203 of those people were released or rescued throughout the war, while 48 remained unaccounted for. The captives were hidden by Hamas in tunnels under buildings and houses, living in horrific conditions for two years. However, twenty survivors and fifteen who had perished were returned home this month after two years in captivity. Some Schechter students were in Israel during this joyous event and shared their experiences.

Juniors Brielle, Anna, and Brian Melzer were in Tel Aviv during the return. Brielle said, “I felt apprehensive because I didn't know if the deal was going to work.” On the other hand, Anna shared, “I felt very relieved and happy to be in Israel while it was happening.” Brian thought that Hamas was not going to follow through with the agreement: “I didn't take it seriously because most of the time both [Israel and Hamas] want opposite things, and the deal is never made.”

Brielle summed up the experience at Hostage Square by saying, “Everyone was so happy and overwhelmed with joy.”

Eitan Guy, a sophomore who was in כוכב יאיר (Kokhav Ya’ir), thirty minutes away from Tel Aviv, was with his grandparents when the exchange was taking place. Guy was watching the news with his family during this event. He said, “I was happy when I found out [they were coming home], and so was my family.”

Hostage biographies displayed in Israel (E. Guy)

Shira Barda is a Bat Sherut at Schechter who is in America for the year but grew up in Israel. Her reaction to the homecoming was heartwarming. She said, “I cried like a baby. You cry for people you don’t even know, and you care for people you don’t even know. That's what makes Israel and our people so special.” 

Barda had stayed up until four in the morning with her host family watching the returns on television. She reflected, “It was difficult being far from home, but it was exciting, too—to experience it in a different way and see how much support there was around the world.”

After over 700 days, Brian described that Hostage Square felt like “everyone was finally coming together.”

Our thoughts and prayers remain with all 13 families still waiting for their loved ones.

Abby Marcus is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since October 2025. Abby is currently a freshman at Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: amarcus29@schechterli.org.