Three years after Hamas abducted him on October 7, and exactly one year after his miraculous release with fellow hostages, former hostage Bar Kupershtein made an emotional visit to the sukkah of United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher.

The Asher family warmly welcomed Bar and his parents, Tal and Julie, along with family friend Rebbetzin Riki Siton. They told Bar that throughout the two years he was held captive, they devoted their tefillos to his release and the release of all the hostages. The visit was accompanied by journalist and commentator Yisrael Cohen, who has been active since October 7 in supporting hostage families and survivors, and advocating for the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim.

Bar spoke emotionally about the great miracles he experienced and the faith in Hashem he discovered while being held in Hamas tunnels in Gaza. He showed MK Asher his slogan, “Bar is in the hands of Borei Olam,” and the nickname he has adopted: “The Survivor of Faith.”

Bar’s mother, Julie, recounted that while he was in captivity, one of the terrorists holding him called her and said she had to appeal to the International Court in The Hague against the State of Israel in order to get her son back. “I answered him firmly: ‘You will not decide for me. Bar is only in the hands of Borei Olam.’”

Bar added that around that same time, terrorists approached the hostages in the tunnel and threatened to execute three of the six, demanding that the hostages choose who would live and who would die. “We refused,” he said. “I told myself that I would not take part in their game, because I am only in the hands of Borei Olam. Since I was released, I have understood that this is my mission and my purpose: to spread this message of faith to Klal Yisrael.”

Bar and his family also described how he and the other hostages made Kiddush and Havdalah using water. For Havdalah, they used an old flashlight in place of a candle and mint medicine for besamim. “A year ago, I was saying Selichos during Chol Hamoed in the depths of the tunnels,” Bar said. “Now I am saying Selichos at the Kosel and in Hostages Square. It is an incredible miracle.”

MK Asher said that his family, like many across Israel, had davened for Bar’s release. His family told Bar that even without knowing him personally, they had been thinking of him throughout his captivity, and that seeing him free was a closing of the circle.

Cohen told Asher that Bar, like the other hostages, has become a symbol of spiritual awakening. He said that Bar and his fellow hostages inspired many people across Israel to strengthen their faith and draw closer to Hashem, bringing about a Kiddush Hashem. He pointed to the large Selichos gatherings and the spiritual commitments taken on by young people as signs of that impact.

The meeting also included mention of Bar’s visit after his release to Maran Rosh Hayeshivah HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. Bar told him about the great miracles he experienced and showed him the hat bearing the words, “Bar is always in the hands of Borei Olam,” a symbol of his deep faith in Hashem.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)