In a moment that shook the heart of Manhattan, Segev Kalfon, a 27-year-old survivor of 738 days in Hamas captivity, stood before thousands of Jewish youth in Times Square on Saturday night to fulfill a vow he made in the tunnels of Gaza: to scream "Shema Yisrael" to the world.
The powerful scene took place during the closing ceremony of the Chabad CTeen International Shabbaton, an event that brought together 4,578 Jewish teenagers from 60 countries and 486 cities.
Kalfon was abducted from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, and held for over two years under conditions of starvation, physical abuse, and psychological torture. During his 738 days in captivity, Kalfon and five fellow hostages survived on meager rations, at times sharing a single bowl of rice or a quarter of a tomato between them.
He recounted being regularly beaten and subjected to "execution games," where captors held lotteries to decide which hostage would be killed next. Despite the horror, Kalfon maintained his faith, praying "Shema Yisrael" daily and even observing Yom Kippur in the underground tunnels.
"I imagined the moment I would stand on a stage in front of Hamas's cameras and call out: "Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad", Kalfon told the crowd. "But Hamas stopped the public release ceremonies before my turn came. They wouldn't let me scream 'Shema Yisrael' in Gaza. So, I am screaming 'Shema Yisrael' in New York."
The massive crowd joined him in unison, their voices echoing across the iconic New York City square. Kalfon was joined on stage by fellow survivors Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzewsky.
