Hostage Survivors Meet Actors Portraying Them in New Play

Aviva and Keith Siegel, who were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7th and held captive for 51 days, attended a rehearsal of the play "Love at the End of the Tunnel" at Habima Theatre. The play, written by Michal Ahroni and directed by Ilail Semel, features actors Moni Moshonov and Sandra Sade portraying the Siegels. The Siegels expressed their deep emotion at seeing their story adapted for the stage, with Aviva noting the difficulty of processing the trauma, stating, "You think you're digesting it, but you're not." Keith described the experience as a "huge privilege" and never imagined their story would be told as a play. Moshonov and Sade, who have been active in the public campaign for the release of hostages, conveyed their own emotional response to portraying the couple, with Sade admitting the weight of their experience is "too much for us." Aviva gifted the actors her book, "The Main Thing is to Wake Up to a New Morning," which has now been released in English. The play aims to tell the Siegels' story not just through the events of October 7th, but through their enduring love and 40-year partnership. Eitan Schwartz, who initiated the project and co-produced the film "Cries and Then Silence," emphasized the importance of preserving their story. The Siegels, who met in Kibbutz Gezer and later moved to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, were abducted by Hamas terrorists. Aviva was released during the first ceasefire, and Keith was freed 484 days after his abduction. Both have since dedicated themselves to advocating for the remaining hostages. Director Ilail Semel views the play as part of a healing process, aiming to distill the Siegels' humor, humanity, and compassion from their harrowing experience. Keith described reliving the ordeal through the play as powerful, evoking a range of difficult and even humorous emotions, while Aviva acknowledged they are still in the early stages of recovery. The play's composer is Tal Blecherovitz.