Freed Hamas Hostages Find New Meaning in Yom Kippur After Captivity

Former Hamas hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel, who were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, are approaching Yom Kippur with a renewed perspective after enduring months of captivity. Aviva spent 51 days held hostage, while Keith was held for 484 days. The couple, aged 67 and 65, lost their home and at least 60 members of their community in the Hamas attacks. Both have spoken about experiencing severe hunger, thirst, and physical and psychological abuse during their detention.

This year, Aviva Siegel will not fast on Yom Kippur. She explained that the forced deprivation of food and drink during her captivity has fundamentally altered her relationship with both eating and the holiday. The ability to choose whether to fast or not, she stated, is now the most important aspect, representing a reclamation of the basic freedoms that were brutally stripped away. Keith Siegel shares this view, emphasizing that Yom Kippur's essence lies in introspection and self-examination, known as 'heshbon nefesh,' rather than solely in physical deprivation.

During his captivity, Keith Siegel recounted that his captors repeatedly pressured him to convert to Islam. These attempts, however, strengthened his Jewish identity and led him to pray more frequently, drawing strength from Jewish history and the resilience of survivors of past persecutions. He felt a responsibility to survive in memory of those who did not have the chance. Aviva's connection to Yom Kippur is rooted in childhood memories and a wartime experience in 1973, but her captivity solidified her decision not to fast again.

Since their release, the Siegels have been living in Gazit, near their daughters and grandchildren, and are actively involved in humanitarian efforts and supporting other former hostages through the organization 255. They aim to share their story to ensure their experiences are not forgotten, acknowledging that while they are rebuilding their lives, the internal wounds remain deep. For them, Yom Kippur has transformed from a day of fasting into a profound recognition of regained freedom and the power of personal choice.