"Thank God I'm Not in a Tunnel"
Shattered Glass, Unbroken Spirit: Ex-Hostage Bar Kupershtein's Car Broken Into, Phone Stolen
After surviving months of captivity in terror tunnels, former hostage Bar Kupershtein woke up to find his car window smashed and his phone stolen, but shared a deeply moving response: "I'm thankful that this is what I'm busy with, and not being in the tunnels."
From Tunnels to Theft: A Return to Civilian Life
Bar Kupershtein, a survivor of Hamas captivity, shared an unwelcome experience with his followers on social media today, revealing that his car was broken into overnight. The incident, which saw a window shattered into fragments and his mobile phone stolen, was documented by Kupershtein in a post that showed the vehicle damage.
Despite the intrusion and theft, Kupershtein’s response was one of profound perspective, immediately contrasting the inconvenience with the ordeal he recently endured.
"I woke up this morning, I went to my car, and discovered that it had been broken into," Kupershtein explained on his Instagram account. "They broke the window and stole my phone. And you know what? Everything's fine, thank God."
A Remarkable Perspective on Adversity
The former hostage stressed the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, stating, "You have to look at the glass half full." His gratitude was not for the incident itself, but for the relatively mundane nature of the adversity he now faces, compared to life in the terror tunnels.
Kupershtein continued: "I'm thankful that I'm busy going to the police station and submitting a report, and not in the tunnels and thinking what I'm going to eat now and if they'll bring me food." He concluded his thought by emphasizing the relief of dealing with everyday civilian problems: "I’m thankful that this is what I'm busy with. While it's not fun, it is more interesting. Thank God." Kupershtein confirmed that he intended to file a police report regarding the break-in and theft.
Tracking the Thief: "I’m Coming"
Later updates posted by Kupershtein revealed that his car's camera had recorded the break-in, capturing the moments of the theft. He shared the footage, and subsequently posted another clip showing the thief was not content with just his vehicle, but also targeted "other vehicles that were standing in the parking lot," noting the thief "didn't settle for stealing just the iPhone, he also wanted from other cars."
Kupershtein was able to use an application to track the stolen iPhone, which pinpointed its location to the city of Petah Tikva. Showing a determined spirit, the ex-hostage publicly announced his intention to retrieve his property, writing, "I'm coming, thief." The incident serves as a jarring reminder of the challenges faced by survivors as they attempt to integrate back into normal life, even as they display extraordinary resilience and perspective.