Hostage Survivor Bar Kupferstein Visits MK Yaakov Asher

Bar Kupferstein, who was held captive by Hamas in Gaza for a year, visited the sukkah of Yahadut HaTorah Chairman MK Yaakov Asher in Bnei Brak on the eve of Hoshana Rabbah. The Asher family welcomed Bar, his parents Tal and Julie, and family friend Rabbi Riki Siton. The family shared that they had dedicated prayers for Bar's release and that of all hostages during his two-year captivity. Senior media figure Yisrael Cohen, a prominent activist for hostages and survivors since the October 7th massacre, accompanied Bar.

Kupferstein emotionally recounted his miraculous release and his faith in God while in Hamas tunnels in Gaza. He presented MK Asher with his slogan, "Bar is in the hands of God," and his nickname, "Survivor of Faith." Bar's father, Tal, thanked MK Asher for his support in Knesset committees and with authorities throughout the struggle for his son's freedom. MK Asher mentioned that his daughter Tamar had prayed for Bar's release, reading the prayer with emotion. The Asher family stated that even without knowing Bar personally, he was always in their hearts, and seeing him free now brings closure.

Yisrael Cohen told MK Asher that Bar, like other hostages, symbolizes spiritual awakening. He added that Bar and his fellow captives have fostered faith and closeness to God among many Israelis, inspiring young people and leading to widespread penitential prayers and spiritual commitments. The meeting also recalled Bar's visit to leading Torah scholar Rabbi G. M. Hirs after his release, where he shared accounts of miracles and showed a hat inscribed with "Bar is always in the hands of God," symbolizing his profound faith.