Five thousand Jewish teens packed Times Square to close the CTeen Shabbaton, where former hostages Matan Zangauker, Ilana Gritzewsky, and Segev Kalfon led the crowd in a powerful recitation of the ‘Shema.’

He climbed out of the pits of hell in Gaza.

Survived Hamas.

Survived 738 days of torture.

And screamed “Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokainu Hashem Eched” to the world.

“I was dreaming of this moment”.

Segev Kalfon won.

He won. pic.twitter.com/z1WNUZMXNO

— Yaakov Langer (@jacklanger) February 22, 2026

Tears, joy, prayer, and resilience tonight in Times Square. A powerful moment as former Hamas hostages took the stage:
Matan Zangauker, Ilana Gritzewsky⁰Segev Kalfon.

Segev said he wanted to shout Shema on the biggest stage in the world.

5,000 teens declared after him:

Shema… pic.twitter.com/OrQhMtE9GU

— Yaacov Behrman (@ChabadLubavitch) February 22, 2026

The post WATCH: Former hostages recite ‘Shema’ with thousands of Jewish teens appeared first on World Israel News.

Thousands of Jewish teens from around the world gathered in New York to celebrate their shared heritage at a Chabad concert and Havdalah ceremony in Times Square.

This was Times Square last night.

We’re more united than ever.

The people of Israel live.

pic.twitter.com/pTBB8AzEm4

— Vivid. (@VividProwess) March 2, 2025

More than 4,000 Jewish teens from 60 countries dance together in a show of fearless Jewish pride in Times Square following the annual CTeen Shabbaton. pic.twitter.com/iO8c1fwrGx

— Chabad Lubavitch HQ (@Lubavitch) March 2, 2025

The post WATCH: Thousands of Jewish teens recite ‘Shema’ prayer at Times Square event appeared first on World Israel News.