This year, Passover takes on a deep and renewed meaning for Eliyah Cohen, who returned home less than two months ago after over 500 days held captive by Hamas. “Throughout that entire period, the word ‘freedom’ felt like a distant dream,” Cohen shares in an interview with RegaNews.
“I lost control of everything in my life – my time, my location, my body. I had no power to change the reality I was trapped in.”
Freedom That Cannot Be Taken
But in that very darkness, Eliyah discovered that true freedom is not just physical—it’s spiritual.
“True freedom is the ability to choose how to see reality,” he explains. “Amid the hardship, lies, and torture, no one could take away my thoughts, my faith, or my will to hold on to life.”
A Journey from Darkness to Light
Eliyah describes moments of despair, but that he always returned to what anchored him—his love for his family and his people.
“When my freedom was restored, I understood I wasn’t just free in body—but also in spirit,” he reflects. “The freedom to feel, to think, to choose how I want to see the world and life itself.”
A Heart Not Yet Whole
This holiday, surrounded by friends and family, Eliyah is more grateful than ever for what he once took for granted. But his joy is not complete. “I’m not truly free as long as my brothers are still there,” he said. “As long as they remain in Gaza, my heart isn’t whole.”
Cohen sees Passover as a reminder of a collective responsibility to bring the remaining hostages home.
“This year, my wish is that we realize how precious our freedom is,” he says with heartfelt intent. “That we learn to cherish it, protect it, and never take what we have for granted. And that we soon see the day when all the hostages return, all families are whole, and all of Israel is free—in body and in soul.”
The Emotional Moments of Eliyah Arriving`Home:
Eliyah has returned home | Omer Miron, GPO
Watch the simple ritual of the Havdalah ceremony that moved the nation:
Hostages Omer Shem Tov, Eliyah Cohen, and Omer Wenkert | Roy Avraham and Omer Miron / GPO
Through his painful yet powerful journey from darkness to light, Eliyah Cohen teaches a timeless lesson about the true meaning of freedom.
It is not just physical, but inner freedom—the ability to choose how to see the world.
His inspiring story is a reminder to truly appreciate our own freedom.
