Right-Wing Activist Invites Hostage's Mother to Gender-Separated Selichot Event in Tel Aviv

Right-wing activist Mordechai David called Einav Tsengauker, mother of kidnapped Metan Tsengauker, to invite her to a Selichot prayer event he is organizing in Tel Aviv with full gender separation. The invitation quickly escalated into a tense exchange between the two. David told Tsengauker, "I wanted to invite you. Tomorrow I am holding Selichot in Tel Aviv with full gender separation. I wanted to invite you if you want to come and participate." Tsengauker responded that they do not wait for Selichot events to ask for forgiveness, saying, "We do Selichot all our lives," and emphasized the need to seek forgiveness year-round from bereaved parents whose children did not return home. David agreed but reiterated his invitation, asking, "Is it forbidden to hold Selichot in Tel Aviv? Why not?" The conversation grew more confrontational, with Tsengauker criticizing David for what she described as behavior that demeans religion. David continued to emphasize the importance of holding Selichot and the unity of the Jewish people.