HOSTAGE: Eli Sharabi’s Incredible Story of Surviving Hamas Captivity for 491 Days After October 7th

Eli Sharabi survived 491 days in Hamas captivity after being abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7. This week on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, we are privileged to have Eli share his story of faith, resilience, and the power of the human soul. Eli joins Jonah for a two-part conversation that moves from public testimony to deeply personal reflection. This special episode is in two parts, and opens with a live, onstage discussion at a Magen David Adom gala in Miami, honoring Eli and tracing his journey from Kibbutz Be’eri to captivity and eventual freedom. We then move to our regular studio where Eli speaks with remarkable clarity, courage, and humanity about survival, resilience, and the inner discipline that sustained him through unimaginable psychological and physical torment. Together, Jonah and Eli explore the writing of Eli’s book Hostage, the healing power of telling his story, and the global impact of his speech at the United Nations. With profound honesty, Eli reflects on the loss of his wife Lianne, his daughters Noiya and Yahel, and his brother Yossi, and shares his ongoing mission to share his story as a testimony against terrorism, confront disinformation, and raise awareness about the truth of what happened to Hamas captives. Follow Eli Sharabi On Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eli_sharabi7 Order his book “Hostage” now - https://www.amazon.com/Hostage-Eli-Sharabi/dp/0063489791 00:00 - Eli's Message of Jewish Pride 01:07 - Gala Event: From Darkness to Light at Magen David Adom 02:44 - Storytelling as a Therapeutic Process 05:16 - October 7th: Kibbutz Be'eri Infiltration 09:00 - Honoring Heroes of Magen David Adom 13:36 - Witnessing Physical Transformation in Captivity 14:50 - Father-Son Bond with Alon Ohel 22:40 - Studio Segment: Choosing Hope Over Hatred 30:15 - Impact of Global Jewish Support 37:10 - Strength Found in Jewish Identity 45:00 - Rebuilding Life After Tragedy 53:40 - Advice for Future Generations 58:30 - Final Reflections and Closing Prayer A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors Americans for Ben-Gurion University - http://a4bgu.org/jonah SAPIR - http://sapirjournal.org/BeingJewish #EliSharabi #October7 #HostageSurvivor #JonahPlatt #BeingJewish #Israel #Resilience #KibbutzBeeri #BringThemHome #MagenDavidAdom #Faith #SurvivalStory