\n<\/strong>Elkana is a resident of Mevaseret Zion, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. He was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, where he had been working. He is married to Rivka and the father of four-year-old Re\u2019em. This past Saturday night, thousands gathered at Hostage Square to mark his 36th birthday.<\/p>\n
At the event, Elkana\u2019s mother, Ruhama Bohbot, addressed him: “Elkana, my love. 36 years ago today, I received the greatest gift\u2014you. Today is your birthday, and on behalf of our entire family, I want to tell you\u2014you are not alone. All of Israel is with you. You are strong, you are a survivor\u2014hold on. Just a little longer, and you\u2019ll be home with us.”<\/p>\n
“I want to wish you an ocean of blessings, for you to be as happy as you always are. May you find points of light even in these dark and difficult days. I want to wish for a miracle, that we can hold you in our arms and never let go. I send you strength and love. I hope you can see the immense support of the people of Israel. Your friends, your family\u2014everyone is here for you. Just a little longer, my love. I love you.”<\/p>\n
His wife, Rivka, also spoke: “My love, today you turn 36, and even though we\u2019re not physically together, I want you to feel my love, my strength, and my unwavering belief that we will soon embrace again. Since October 7, every day without you has been a struggle, but also proof of the love that binds us.”<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/life1.avif\")
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Mayor of Mevaseret Zion: “We Are Strong, United, and Determined to Do Everything” He added, “Our hearts are broken, but we are strong and united\u2014and above all, determined to do whatever it takes to bring our beloved Elkana home.”<\/p>\n “Elkana, we love you, we miss you, and we are waiting to see you back with us,” Shimon concluded.<\/p>\n Yosef Chaim Ohana: Always Helping His Single Mother Friends of Yosef recounted that he and his companions tried to assist the wounded, helping to evacuate them to medics and ambulances. “They tried to run toward the main road, but then the shooting started\u2014Yosef ran right, and his friend ran left,” they said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The terrorist organization Hamas has released a sign of life from hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Chaim Ohana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2276,8,6],"tags":[3477,1477,2961,1705,3478,3476],"class_list":["post-17936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","category-politics","category-security","tag-captivity","tag-hamas","tag-hope","tag-israeli-hostages","tag-sign-of-life","tag-terrorist-organization"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/strong>Mevaseret Zion Mayor Yoram Shimon said he spoke with Elkana\u2019s parents, Ruhama and David Bohbot, following the release of the video. “Yesterday, we marked Elkana\u2019s birthday with hundreds of residents, and we will continue doing everything in our power to bring him home\u2014along with all the other hostages,” he declared.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Yosef was also kidnapped from the Nova festival in Re\u2019im. He had been working as a bartender at the Aryeh restaurant in Tel Aviv and dreamed of studying coaching. In the year before his abduction, he lived with his grandmother. His mother, a single parent, shared: “I am a single mother\u2014he always helped me.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/life2.jpg\")