His grandson, Hagai, had been scheduled to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on that very same day — October 7 — but refused to go forward with the ceremony while his grandfather remained in the hands of Hamas. For the family, joy was impossible while Gadi was missing.

Now, with Gadi finally home, the Moses family has been able to hold the postponed Bar Mitzvah — a bittersweet moment of closure and resilience.

The ceremony took place at the Kosel, where Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Kotel and Israel’s holy sites, blessed Hagai and praised his strength and patience. “May you walk in your grandfather’s footsteps,” Rabbi Rabinowitz said, “with faith, with a deep love of the land, and a connection to the people of Israel.”

The moment was deeply emotional for everyone present. What began as a postponed celebration became a powerful symbol — not only of a family’s unwavering love and patience, but of the resilience and unity that continue to define the Israeli spirit.

For the Moses family, this wasn’t just a Bar Mitzvah. It was the restoration of a moment that was stolen — and the reclaiming of hope.