October 17, 2025 | 25 Tishrei 5786
Candlelighting 6:19 p.m. | Havdalah 7:16 p.m. | Vol. 68, No. 42 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
Israel redeems all 20 living Hamas captives as part of Trump peace plan
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Enhancing security
Federation analyst to help identify threats LOCAL
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Community commemorates Oct. 7, while waiting for last hostages to return home
Page 2
The legacy of Walter and Irene Jacob
Former Hamas hostage Eitan Mor is reunited with his parents at the Re’im military base in southern Israel, Oct. 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Tikva Forum of Hostages’ Families
Continuing to better the world Page 3
LOCAL Reaction to hostage deal
Pennsylvania politicians’ posts Page 5
WORLD Latviaʼs Jewish story
History unearthed Page 8
By Charles Bybelezer, Akiva Van Koningsveld | JNS
I
srael on Monday morning saw the return of all 20 living hostages from Gaza, two years after their kidnapping by Hamas during the Palestinian terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre. Their return is part of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump‘s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip. The hostages were released in two waves, the first comprising Matan Angrest, twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, Guy GilboaDalal, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor and Alon Ohel. The seven, accompanied by Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency officers, crossed into Israel at around 9:30 local time, according to the IDF. “Our beloved Eitan, how long we have waited for you, how long we have waited to finally see you after two years. The last time we saw you was today two years ago, on the Hoshana Rabbah [holiday], and today we embrace you once again,” said Eitan’s parents, Tzvika and Efrat Mor. “Our Eitan has come back to us thanks to the commanders and soldiers of the IDF and other security forces, our heroes who went out with self-sacrifice to destroy the enemy,” they continued, thanking the
government and people of Israel, as well as Trump. Hours after the initial release, an additional batch of 13 Israeli captives was handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip. The second batch included Elkana Bohbot, Rom Braslavski, Nimrod Cohen, brothers David and Ariel Cuneo, Evyatar David, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Segev Kalfon, Bar Kupershtein, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Avinatan Or and Matan Zangauker. “It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity,” the IDF wrote in a social media post upon their return. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said that all government agencies would continue to accompany the freed hostages and their families “throughout the entire process of reception and rehabilitation.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog tweeted, “And the children shall return to their own borders,” citing from the Book of Jeremiah. “With thanks to God we welcome our loved ones home. We are waiting for everyone — every last one,” the Israeli head of state added. Please see Hostages, page 10
Former hostage Andrei Kozlov responds to a question from Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff.
Photo by Joshua Franzos
By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer
A
n evening of commemoration created space for remembrance and hope. Hours before the 20 living hostages were released from Gaza and returned to Israel, nearly 500 Pittsburghers gathered at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill on Oct. 12 for a Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh-hosted event marking two years since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. The program served multiple purposes, Federation’s Community Relations Council Chair David Knoll said. The goal was not only to recall the horrifying events of Oct. 7, 2023, and mourn the lives lost, but to “embrace hope.” In the 736 days since the start of the Israel-Hamas war the “world has changed,” Federation CEO and President Jeffrey Finkelstein said. “History shifted on that day, and the aftershocks are still with us.” Among the most notable consequences of Oct. 7 are the proliferation of antisemitism “on campuses, online, in the streets of our cities,” as well as a questioning of “Israel’s Please see Commemoration, page 10
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Brokering the deal
Peace in the works
FILM
Oct. 7 documentaries