By David Tanklefsky, Castle Group
A crowd of about 700 gathered at Temple Shalom in Newton Wednesday night to hear the incredible story of love and survival told by Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud on the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attacks.
Cohen and Abud were attending the Nova Music Festival together, along with Abud’s nephew and girlfriend, when it was attacked by Hamas. Cohen was taken hostage by the terrorists, while Abud—who had been hiding under the bodies of those killed in a bomb shelter—lost consciousness. When she woke up, she found she had survived, but her nephew and his girlfriend had been murdered.
Cohen was taken to Gaza, where for 505 days he survived unimaginable conditions inside its underground tunnels. He told the crowd about keeping his faith while being held hostage, praying quietly and envisioning his family’s Shabbat table on Friday nights.
Each day he would give himself a few moments to thank God he had survived one more day. “I promise you, I am strong,” he recalled telling God. “Just keep my family strong and healthy.”
Meanwhile, in the outside world, Abud was traveling the world sharing Cohen’s story and fighting to keep the release of the hostages top of mind for world leaders and other Israelis. In the ensuing months, she found out from Cohen’s mother that he had planned to propose to her. “I waited seven years and then he was kidnapped,” she said. “Then I found out he bought a ring.”
While being held by Hamas, Cohen met fellow hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin who shared the wisdom that “he who has a why can bear any how.” Cohen’s why, he said, was to one day return to his family and his love, Abud. Goldberg-Polin, an American and Israeli, was murdered by Hamas.
About 700 people gathered to hear Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud, survivors of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack against Israel, speak at Temple Shalom in Newton on the third anniversary of the tragedy. Photo courtesy Combined Jewish Philanthropies
In February 2025, Cohen was released as part of a hostage deal. He recounted walking up to the stage where Hamas was broadcasting his release and flashing the “V” sign for victory. “I knew this is my victory,” he said. “I survived and I’m [going] home.”
Cohen and Abud shared an emotional reunion back in southern Israel, continued their relationship, and were married this past August. Surrounded by friends and family, their incredible story, the living embodiment of the power of love and resilience even in humanity’s darkest moments.
The couple was welcomed to the Temple Shalom bimah with a long standing ovation and received another after concluding their remarks.
“They chose life and they chose love in the face of everything that tried to take those from them,” said Combined Jewish Philanthropies President and CEO Rabbi Marc Baker in his remarks introducing the couple. “I can’t think of a more meaningful way to commemorate October 7 three years later.”
CJP organized the gathering in conjunction with Temple Shalom.