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Almost 600 days post-abduction by Hamas during the tragic events of October 7, Edan Alexander triumphantly returned to his New Jersey home on Thursday, amid an overwhelmingly emotional reception. Residents of Tenafly, numbering in the hundreds, braved the rain-soaked roads, enthusiastically waving American and Israeli banners and showcasing handmade placards to greet him back warmly.
Smiling and waving from the passenger’s side of a black SUV, the 21-year-old Alexander was greeted by the cheers of supporters and the procession of a police motorcade as he traveled through the town of 50,000 people.
An undated image provided by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum features Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, who was taken hostage and transported to Gaza on October 7, 2023. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum via AP)
“Our community has been praying for him—585 days,” said Rabbi Mordechai Shain, the family’s longtime rabbi. There was a march every week for him to come home. It was like we lived it.”
“As a person and a family, he just wants to go back to life and move on,” said the rabbi. “This is a process. It’s going to take time to heal because we don’t even know how much torture he went through. He hasn’t told us.”
During his time in captivity, Tenafly’s Jewish community held weekly prayers, marches, and even celebrated Edan’s birthday in his absence. “Over 800 people came to his Hanukkah birthday celebration,” said the Rabbi. “We wanted him to know we hadn’t forgotten.”
Alexander is expected to remain in New Jersey for now as he focuses on his recovery. He reportedly weighed just 121 pounds upon his release and suffered hand injuries.
