Rescued hostage Noa Argamani visits Lubavitcher Rebbe's grave in New York
(Video: Itsik Belnitski)
Noa Argamani, the hostage rescued in a heroic operation last month from the Gaza Strip, visited the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York Friday morning, nine months after her father prayed for her return at the same site. During her visit, Argamani prayed and placed photos of several hostages on the grave, a place where people leave notes with requests.
Accompanying Argamani were the mother of special police officer Ran Gvili, whose body is held by Hamas; Eli Bibas, whose son Yarden, daughter-in-law Shiri, and grandchildren Kfir and Ariel were kidnapped to Gaza; the mother of Yonatan Samarno, abducted from the Nova music festival and declared dead after 59 days; the brother of Oron Shaul, abducted during Operation Protective Edge; the mother of Omer Shemtov, kidnapped from the Nova festival to Gaza; the mother of hostage Ohad Yahalomi, still held in Gaza and grandmother of 12-year-old Eitan, freed after 52 days.
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Rescued hostage Noa Argamani visits Lubavitcher Rebbe's grave in New York
(Photo: Itsik Belnitski)
Argamani, whose image of being abducted to Gaza has become one of the most synonymous visuals with the tragic events of October 7, prayed in gratitude for her release. Nine months earlier, her father, Yaakov, prayed at the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s grave during a significant Chabad-organized trip for the families of the hostages. At that time, Yaakov was seen holding his daughter’s photo while praying for her rescue. On Friday, Yaakov joined his daughter in prayer at the site.
"Alongside the prayer of thanks for Noa Argamani’s release, we continue to pray for the return of all the hostages," said Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Aharonov, chairman of Chabad Youth.
Earlier this week, Argamani accompanied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his trip to Washington and attended his speech to Congress. When the prime minister mentioned her, members of Congress gave her a prolonged standing ovation. During a meeting with Netanyahu, Argamani spoke about the immense pain and suffering of the hostages and urged him to do everything possible to secure their swift release.