Nearly nine months after his release from Hamas captivity in Gaza, Bar Kupershtein returned to the Nova Music Festival memorial in Re'im, the site where he was kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 massacre. There, he put on tefillin, recited Shema, and participated in the writing of a Sefer Torah.
Kupershtein shared images of the visit on Instagram, documenting himself praying at the location where Hamas terrorists took him. The photos also showed him adding a letter to a specially prepared Sefer Torah brought to the memorial.
On October 7, Kupershtein was serving as deputy security officer at the Supernova Music Festival when Hamas launched its assault. Instead of fleeing, he repeatedly drove an ATV back into the danger zone to evacuate wounded people and provide assistance. During one of these rescue missions, he was seized by terrorists and taken to Gaza.
While he was in captivity, his mother Julie launched the "Tefillin for Every Hostage" Campaign. Bar's personal tefillin were lent to thousands of young Jews in Israel and worldwide, who used them while praying for his safe return.
After returning home, Kupershtein said that prayer had been a major source of strength during his captivity. "When I heard my captors praying, I realized that if they pray, I have to pray and strengthen myself even more."
Following his release, he also organized a large public tefillin-laying gathering at Hostages Square.
The Re'im visit came days after Kupershtein announced on social media that he was moving into a new apartment and hoped "to start from scratch." After requesting help furnishing the space, he received extensive public support. "I can't keep up with all the messages. It moves me to tears to see how everyone wants to help," He wrote in response.