Shir Siegel had put her wedding plans on hold for nearly two years, waiting for her parents to come home. This week, former hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel finally walked their daughter down the aisle, but they weren’t alone under the traditional Jewish wedding canopy.

Keith and Aviva Siegel were among 253 people taken hostage when Hamas terrorists stormed southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Aviva was released after 51 days during a brief November 2023 ceasefire, but Keith remained in captivity for 484 days until his release on February 1st, 2025.

Celebrating with them under the chuppah were former hostages Emily Damari, Liri Albag, Agam Berger, and Amit Soussana. Together they recited the Shehecheyanu blessing—a prayer of gratitude for reaching significant moments. As they spoke the ancient Hebrew words, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, who has given us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this moment,” it marked an extraordinary reunion of people who had endured some of the darkest chapters of the October 7th massacre.