‘Turning pain into purpose’

Released hostage Eli Sharabi will visit Australia for the first time to headline JNF Australia’s 2025 annual campaign, “Together, We Rise With Israel” – an effort to rebuild, renew, grow and heal communities in Israel’s north and south.

Sharabi, 52, will share his harrowing and heartbreaking personal story of survival. On October 7, 2023, he was brutally taken hostage from Kibbutz Be’eri and spent 491 days in Hamas captivity. It was only when he was released in February 2025, frail and traumatised, that he discovered his wife Lianne and daughters Noiya and Yahel had been murdered in their family home.

“Surviving captivity has shown me the power of resilience, the necessity of hope, and the unbreakable spirit of the Israeli people,” said Sharabi.

Despite the unimaginable trauma, Sharabi has become a powerful voice for resilience and remembrance – sharing his story on international stages and addressing global leaders and communities around the world.

His presence is expected to further inspire the Australian Jewish community and their deep commitment to supporting Israel.