Former hostage blessed at Western Wall as thousands attend Passover ceremony

Cohen, 27, was abducted from the Nova music festival during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. He was taken as he tried to flee the festival venue with his fiancée Ziv Aboud, who was left buried under bodies for six hours before being rescued by soldiers.

Throughout his captivity, Cohen had no idea whether his partner had been killed in the attacks and only discovered that she had survived when he was returned home.

Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel David Yosef, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Kalman Ber, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites Shmuel Rabinowitz, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion attended the ceremony.

The crowd also prayed for the safe return of the remaining hostages (Image: Flash90)Flash90

The event began at 8.45 am with morning prayers, followed by the first priestly blessing an hour and a half later. The additional prayer service started at 10.15 am, with the main blessing at 10.30 am.

Following the conclusion of the ceremony, participants held a special prayer for the return of all hostages still held in Gaza, for the safety of IDF soldiers and security forces, for the healing of the wounded, and for peace and security across Israel.