Mother of an Oct. 7 hostage tells her story at Chabad of Sea Cliff-Glen Cove
Finding the light in the darkness
In an emotional gathering at the Chabad of Sea Cliff-Glen Cove, Einav Danino, an Israeli mother whose son, Ori, was kidnapped by Hamas following the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7, shared her harrowing experience and message of hope and resilience. The event, titled “A Mother’s Plea,” drew dozens of people, united in support and solidarity.
Rabbi Sholom Heber explained that when the Chabad heard Danino’s story, he felt that it was important to get the chance to share and amplify her experience.
“We heard of her story and felt our community would gain a lot from her experience,” Heber said. “While the rest of us are able to move on with our lives, in the meantime, her son is still hostage. For her, nothing has changed from then to now.”
Heber opened the evening with a heartfelt introduction, emphasizing the unity and mutual responsibility that binds the Jewish people. He pointed out that the history of the Jewish people was often one of suffering, but through mutual support and care for one another any obstacle could be overcome.
“We have a famous saying that says ‘Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh,’ which means all the Jewish people are guarantors for each other,” Heber said. “When one of us faces a challenge, we all do.”
The event coincided with the 17th of Tammuz, a significant date in the Jewish calendar marking the breach of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple by the Roman Empire. Heber drew parallels between historical tragedies and current events, highlighting the continuous struggle and resilience of the Jewish people.
Danino’s story was delivered through translator Sigal Shmuely as Danino spoke in Hebrew. She recounted the events of Oct. 7, when her son Ori, along with thousands of others, attended the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel. What began as a day of music and joy turned into a nightmare when rockets and gunfire erupted around them.
Danino described how Ori, 25, initially managed to escape the chaos but chose to return to the danger zone to help three friends who were left behind. This selfless act resulted in his capture by Hamas.
“He told his friends, ‘Don’t worry about me. Worry about them’,” Danino shared. “That’s who Ori is.”
For months, Danino has lived with the anguish of not knowing her son’s fate, clinging to hope and her faith. Her story resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom wiped away tears as they listened.
“Every day, I wait for news,” she said, her voice breaking. “Every day, I pray.”
The event featured a moving video montage that illustrated the Jewish people’s historical struggles, from the destruction of the Temple to the Holocaust, and more recently, the Oct. 7 attacks. The video concluded with images of the Nova Music Festival, drawing a poignant connection between past and present.
“We wanted to show that despite the challenges, we remain strong and united,” Rabbi Heber explained.
Danino’s message to the Chabad community was one of gratitude and a call to maintain the spirit of unity and caring. She described how when Ori was heading to his bar mitzvah, he nearly died in a car accident, and that since that day she had not questioned God’s choices.
“It’s not easy to thank God for the difficulties,” she said. “Faith is not just to receive good things from God and say thank you.”
Audience members were invited to share their thoughts and prayers, and many offered heartfelt sympathy, hugging, and even crying with Danino. Heber and his wife Miriam presented Danino with a mezuzah, a device affixed to the door outside Jewish homes meant to hold pieces of parchment inscribed with Torah verses, made from the shrapnel of Hamas rockets stopped by the Iron Dome.
“Ori’s name means light, and when you hear his story, you realize that he’s full of light,” Heber explained. “So, we took the missiles, which were used for a negative thing, for darkness, and we turned it into light.”
The event concluded with a prayer for the hostages and a call for their swift and safe return. The community stood together, hands clasped, voices united in prayer.
“May God bring them from distress to comfort, from darkness to light,” Heber prayed.”
For more information on the Chabad, Ori’s story, and ways to help, visit the website ChabadOfSeaCliff.com or call (516) 669-3367.
