Cousin of Israeli hostage to speak at 'Bring Them Home' event in Sarasota at Temple Emanu-El

Leat Corinne Unger, a cousin of Omer Shem Tov – one of the estimated 134 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza – will share his story in Sarasota during a “Bring Them Home” event on April 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El (151 McIntosh Road).

The free event is supported by several local Jewish organizations, including American Jewish Committee, Aviva Senior Living, Congregation Kol HaNeshama, Hershorin Schiff Community Day School, Jewish Congregation of Venice, Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, JFCS of the Suncoast, Jewish National Fund, Temple Beth Israel, Temple Emanu-El, and The Harvest Sarasota.

“We are honored to host Leat as she brings the plight of the Israeli hostages to our community," Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Elaine Glickman said. "As evidenced by the many organizations who are partnering on this event, Sarasota is beautifully coming together to show their unified hope to bring the hostages home.”

Omer Shem Tov, 21, was attending the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 when the Hamas terrorists struck. He was one of dozens abducted from the concert and thrown into a pickup truck. He was able to share his location with his parents who noticed the location was moving and headed in the direction of Gaza. They never heard from him again but were able to identify him from tattoos seen on Hamas videos.

One of the hostages who was freed on Day 55 said Omer, who suffers from asthma and coeliac disease, was alive. In an interview with the Jewish News, Unger, 36, calls him the “sunshine of his home” and describes a “man of peace,” a brave, honorable person who risked his chance for safety to save the lives of two friends.

Unger told the Jewish News that if he “has faith in such a place of darkness, we as the Jewish people, who have morals, need to demand that our lives are returned to us. If he can bring light to the tunnels of Hamas, as the Jewish people we have a collective responsibility to love thy neighbor as thyself and demand our light is returned.”

Unger is speaking around the United States to raise awareness of the hostages. Reservations are required. To RSVP, visit sarasotatemple/events.org. For information, email giselepintchuck@yahoo.com.

Submitted by Marty Katz

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Israeli hostage's cousin to speak at 'Bring Them Home' event in Sarasota