A small group of family members of hostages visited the home of HaGaon HaRav Baruch Dov Povarsky on Sunday evening to receive brachos as Israel marks 500 days since the October 7 massacre.

The meeting was attended by family members of the hostages Edan Alexander, 21, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 22, Eviatar David, 24, and Uriel Baruch, H’yd, 35, who was murdered in captivity.

The Rosh Yeshivah welcomed the visitors warmly and recited Tehillim with them, as well as the tefillah ‘Acheinu’ while sobbing, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

HaRav Povarsky also signed a special letter calling for tefillos and issued a call to mark the 500th day with a Taanis Dibur, to refrain from speaking Lashon Hara and Rechilus, and to increase Ahavas Chinam in the zechus of the hostages.

The Rosh Yeshivah and Rebbetzin Povarsky also listened to the stories of the hostages and cried together with the families. The family members told the Rosh  Yeshivah about their endeavors in ruchniyus they are carrying out in the zechus of the hostages, including Kabbalos Hamitzvos, laying tefillin, Shemiras Shabbos, and Ahavas Chinam.

Chareidi publicist Yisrael Cohen, who coordinated the visit together with HaRav Dovid Druk, the head of the Kissufim organizaiton, said after the meeting: “There was a special spiritual energy in the air during the meeting. The Rosh Yeshivah and Rebbetzin simply sat and cried together with the family members and shared in their sorrow. We all cried together with them and davened that all the hostages will return soon.”

Roi Ben Baruch, brother of Uriel, H’yd, said: “I have met with prime ministers, ministers, and leaders, but nowhere did I feel so moved. Here I truly felt that this visit was immediately beneficial spiritually.”

Levi, Edan’s uncle, said, “When we were reciting Tehillim with the Rosh Yeshivah, I felt that the tefillah rose straight to Shamayim and had an effect.”

Galya, Eviatar’s mother, said: “This is the first time I visited a Gadol HaDor. It has greatly impacted me to understand that the Rav and Rabbani truly feel my pain. The great encouragement from their words gives me strength to believe with emunah sheleimah that Eviatar will return to us.”

HaRav Povarsky’s letter states: “Everyone is aware that it is Eis Tzara L’Yaakov in Eretz Yisrael, especially when our brothers are already hostages of bnei avlah for 500 days.”

“Therefore we call on Klal Yisrael, bnei yeshivos, kollelim and talmidei Talmud Torah and Beis Yaakov students to increase their tefillos and taanis dibur and shemiras halashon and to be mechazeik in limmud Torah and improve their deeds.”

“Each person should increase their tefillos.  ‘תולעת יעקב אין כוחה אלא בפה’ – and therefore each person needs to daven and to plead to Hashem, to thank Him for His goodness and many chassadim and to request that He does not abandon us in the future and we shouldn’t experience further tzaros within our borders.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)