Edan Alexander Street
Emotional Tribute to Freed Hostage Edan Alexander: Tenafly Names Street in His Honor
After surviving 584 gruelling days in captivity by the Hamas terror organization, the young soldier was celebrated in his hometown before re-joining his military unit to defend Israel.
Residents of Tenafly, New Jersey, gathered on Monday to pay a heartfelt tribute to Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier and local hero who endured over 580 days as a hostage of the Hamas terror organization. In a moving ceremony outside the borough hall, town officials unveiled a new street sign, renaming the road leading to the municipal parking lot ‘Edan Alexander Way.’ The dedication served as both a symbolic homecoming and an inspiring sendoff as Alexander prepares to return to active duty with the Israeli military.
Addressing the crowd of approximately 200 attendees, Alexander, flanked by his family, spoke of the strength he drew from his community. “A year and a half in captivity was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through but I never felt completely alone,” Alexander shared. “To have a road named here in a place I call home, I would never have imagined. I knew my family, my town, and so many people were fighting for me, keeping my name alive, and pushing for my return. That gave me strength.”
He described the honour as a reminder of communal resilience, emphasizing, “It’s just not my name on the sign it’s a reminder of how powerful a community can be when it refuses to give up.”
Leaders Commend Courage and Service
Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna, who presided over the event, praised Alexander’s “strength and courage” in deciding to return to the frontlines. The Mayor also referenced a recent act of antisemitic vandalism at the local Temple Sinai, where an Israeli flag was burned, noting that the congregation responded by purchasing more Israeli flags.
U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) commended the soldier’s decision to continue his service, describing him as a fighter who “overcame all odds and then rushed back to continue the fight against terror and evil.” Gottheimer recalled being deeply impressed by Alexander’s humility after his release, saying, “He told me the real heroes are the ones still there, and those who gave their lives.”
Alexander’s journey of survival concluded in May after extended negotiations involving Israel, the Hamas terror organization, and the United States. Following a hero’s welcome in Tenafly, he largely remained out of the public eye until earlier this month, when he announced his plan to return to duty at a Friends of the IDF fundraiser. He powerfully declared at the time, “My story does not end with survival. It continues with service.”
Sole Protester Briefly Disrupts Event
The ceremony, which was overwhelmingly celebratory and supportive, was briefly interrupted by a single protester, identified as 67-year-old Rich Siegel from Teaneck. Waving a Palestinian flag and holding a sign that read, “When do we Jews notice that Israel is insane?!”, the protester accused Israel of committing atrocities in Gaza and described enlisting in the Israeli military as “an obscenity.” Despite the isolated interruption, the overwhelmingly positive mood among attendees remained focused on honouring Alexander.
The ceremony concluded with a blessing from Rabbi Mordecai Shain of the Lubavitch of the Palisades. The Rabbi, who had prayed for Alexander’s safe return, presented him with a pair of Tefillin, small black boxes containing Torah verses, symbolically binding mind and heart to G-d. Rabbi Shain remarked, “Just as we prayed for him while he was in captivity, we will now pray for him again as he returns to serve Israel.”