Freed Hostage Bar Kupershtein's Dream Comes True

In a heartwarming and emotional event on Friday, Bar Kupershtein, a survivor of captivity, fulfilled a dream that he had nurtured during his time in captivity: laying tefillin with thousands of people at Hostages Square in central Tel Aviv.

“Come lay tefillin with me!” Kupershtein had urged in a touching public appeal. “While I was in captivity, I dreamed that thousands of people would lay tefillin together here in the square. Come and fulfill this dream with me.”

The roots of this remarkable moment stretch back over a year and a half. During the height of Operation “Iron Swords,” Chabad Tel Aviv, together with Bar’s parents, Tal and Julie, and in coordination with the Hostages’ Headquarters, established the famous “Bar Tefillin” booth. Over the months, Chabad emissaries ran the booth continuously, giving thousands of Jews the opportunity to perform the mitzvah of laying tefillin and pray for the safe return of all hostages.

The booth became the “beating heart” of the Jewish square, offering personalized Tehillim booklets for each hostage and Shabbat candle sets for women and girls, all dedicated to Bar’s merit. It is little wonder that while in captivity, Bar deeply felt the thousands of mitzvot performed on his behalf, and longed to witness the dream come alive in person.

Last Friday, in a scene that captivated all attendees, thousands answered Bar’s call, gathering en masse to lay tefillin in the spirit of gratitude and devotion. Chabad emissaries, including Rabbi Yosef Gerlitzky and his son Rabbi Mendy Gerlitzky, addressed the crowd, guiding participants through the mitzvah and helping ensure that everyone could take part in this historic moment.

Bar Kupershtein expressed profound thanks to the Chabad team and students who made the event possible, marking a triumphant and spiritual culmination of a dream nurtured through hardship and faith.