Savannah’s Jewish community celebrates and honors release of 20 living hostages

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A celebration seen across the world is also spreading to the Jewish community and its allies in Savannah.

Monday, the Jewish Education Alliance held a ceremony to celebrate the hostages’ homecoming.

“The motto ever since October 7th is we will dance again,” said Jackie Laban, the Asst. Director for the children and camp department of the J.E.A.

And they did.... Dancing, praying, and celebrating the 20 living hostages released by Hamas.

Attendees at the Jewish Educational Alliance in Savannah say there have been many starts and stops to this process, and they are relieved for the news to finally be true.

Leaders invited community members out to commemorate with a ceremony.

“We can all come together and recognize that the release of innocent hostages is something that nobody could argue with,” said Matthew Allen, President of the Board of Governors for the Savannah Jewish Federation.

A celebration of freedom after 738 days in captivity.

People who came listened to two local rabbis, along with singing the Israeli anthem and community prayer.

“There’s nothing more beautiful than respecting others’ religions and their beliefs. And I think it’s super important to understand that the Jewish people have stood with every demographic, every type, from the beginning of time,” said Laban.

“I think just this overwhelming feeling of relief, you know, that this has finally happened, that these hostages are finally coming home,” said Allen.

Allen says Jews across the world are celebrating.

He says even though there are thousands of Jews in Savannah, it’s still such a small community.

“The Jewish community worldwide is 0.2% of 1% of the total people on this earth. So, one-fifth of 1%,” said Allen.

He hopes that moving forward, everyone can follow ‘freedom of religion’.

“As long as people can just live their lives however they want, in peace, we’ll be happy with that,” said Allen.