“I’m Omer Shem Tov—and I’m a free man.”
These were the words the former hostage exclaimed before 3,000 supporters at Jewish National Fund-USA’s Global Conference for Israel.
Before October 7, Omer said he was “full of hope that peace would come to Israel.” He recalled growing up in a country that taught peace from kindergarten songs to the national emblem itself—the dove, a symbol of gentleness and light among the eagles of other nations. “But on that day,” he said quietly, “those hopes and dreams crashed.”
During captivity, Omer witnessed moments that would test anyone’s faith in humanity—the joy on the faces of those celebrating his suffering, the despair of fellow hostages left behind. Yet even then, his story was one of gratitude, not bitterness.
When an interim hostage agreement came and Omer’s release was confirmed, he described stepping into freedom with vivid imagery. “It was a rainy day, the sky was gray—but for me, it was the sunniest day of the year.” Surrounded by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, he saw faces filled with respect, compassion, and pride. One officer, Dalia, greeted him with the words every Israeli longs to hear: "Welcome home."
“I asked her if I could hug her,” Omer recalled. “And for the first time in 505 days, I felt warmth again. That’s what we need in life—love and affection.”
Omer ended his remarks with a message that resonated deeply across the packed ballroom: “We cannot stop, and we cannot rest until all of [the deceased hostages] are back home.” His faith in Israel and in the people who fought for his return remained unbroken.
At Jewish National Fund-USA’s Global Conference for Israel, his words reflected the spirit that united thousands in the room: an unshakable commitment to the land and people of Israel, to bringing every hostage home, and to building a future of resilience and renewal in the country's North and South. In Omer’s strength, the audience saw not just the pain of captivity—but the enduring light of the people of Israel’s spirit.
Register for the next Global Conference for Israel at jnf.org/global
