Almost 600 days after he was abducted by Hamas during the massacre on 7 October, Edan Alexander returned to New Jersey on Thursday to a deep emotional return. Hundreds of inhabitants stood along the rain driven streets of his hometown Tenafly, waving with American and Israeli flags and handmade signs, would like to welcome again.
Alexander, 21, became smiling and waving from the passenger chair of a black SUV while slowly rolling through the 50,000-in-play city, flanked by a police enginecade and cheering supporters.
This undated photo released by the Highnesses and Missing Families Forum shows the Israeli American soldier Edan Alexander, who was abducted to Gaza on October 7, 2023 and was taken to Gaza. (Hostages and missing family forum via AP)
“Our community prayed for him – 585 days,” said Rabbi Mordechai Shain, the old rabbi of the family. Every week there was a march for him to get home. It was like we lived it. “
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Raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, Alexander moved to Israel at the age of 18 to do volunteer work for military service in the Golani Brigade of the IDF. He lived with his grandparents in Tel Aviv and in Kibbutz Hazor, where he was part of a group of lonely soldiers.
Alexander served in the Israel Defense Forces when he was abducted by Hamas terrorists during his fatal attack on South Israel when he was 19 years old.
In May he was released after more than 19 months in captivity, in what was described as a goodwill gesture after quiet negotiations between American officials and Hamas. Midden -Ooste envoy Steve Witkoff and special hostage agent Adam Boehler, played a key role in securing his release.
Rabbi Shain, who has known Alexander for two years, said that Edan was known for his calm friendliness. “Even when he was a little boy, he was the one who helped without anyone knew,” the Rabbi remembered and noticed that Edan had taken the service of a friend on October 7, so that the other soldier could go home – an act that led to his conquest.
American hostages Edan Alexander released by Hamas after more than 580 days in captivity
“As a person and a family, he just wants to go back to life and continue,” said the rabbi. “This is a process. It will take time to cure because we don’t even know how much torture he has experienced. He didn’t tell us.”
During his time in captivity, the Jewish community of Tenafly held weekly prayers, Marsen and even celebrated Edan’s birthday in his absence. “More than 800 people came to his Hanuka birthday celebration,” said the Rabbi. “We wanted him to know we didn’t forget it.”
Alexander is expected to stay in New Jersey for the time being as he focuses on his recovery. Allegedly he only weighed 121 pounds after his release and he sustained hand injury.
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