Elkana Bohbot. A journey of faith. Resilience. And a deep love for life.
A story about the strength of the human spirit. About a family that refused to give up. And about a daily choice to choose life.
"For close to two years I was held captive by Hamas in Gaza after being abducted from the Nova and Mushroom Festival, where I stayed in order to save people and protect others until the moment of my abduction. Since returning home to the loving arms of my wife Rivka and my beloved son Re'em, I have been walking a new path of healing. Of action. And of spreading hope."
My Story
Hello. My name is Elkana Bohbot. Son of Ruchama and David. Husband of Rivka. And father of Raam.
On the seventh of October I was part of the production team of the Nova & Mushroom Festival. In the moments of the attack I chose to stay and help others. From those moments I was abducted to Gaza and led into a long and challenging reality.
Throughout my captivity I held one thing in my heart. The faith that I would return home to my family.
When I came back I discovered that the journey had not ended. It had become a different journey. A journey of healing body and soul. Of careful return to life. And of learning again who I am today.
I share my story out of a desire to give strength. To awaken hope. And to remind that even from deep darkness it is possible to grow again.
Elkana Bohbot. 738 days in Hamas captivity
Since returning home from captivity I began to write. Step by step. Breath by breath. My story.
The book that is now being published is the place where I share the journey of these troubling, difficult and challenging years. From the moments before the abduction. Through the long period in captivity. And into the complex path of returning home and adapting to the life that followed.
The book is written with honesty. With spirit. And with artistry. As my heart knows how to tell.
Within it I speak about love and family. About resilience born from fracture. About fear and longing. About faith. About hope. And about meaning.
This book is dedicated to my beloved family. To Rivka. My brave and heroic wife. Whom I love more than anything in the world. And to my son Re'em. Who is my strength. The knowledge that I must return to him gave me strength in the most difficult moments of captivity.
The book is also dedicated to my dear mother, may she live many years. To my beloved father. And to my dear siblings. And to all the friends I lost. They are an inseparable part of my story. I carry them in my heart. And I will continue to tell their stories and honour their memory.
And thank you to the people of Israel. The most beautiful people in the world. For the prayers. The embrace. And the support that accompanied the path back to my family.
Thank you to the Creator of the world. I give thanks before you. Living and eternal King. For restoring my soul within me. With great compassion and faithfulness.
The book is intended for people coping with crisis. For families and trauma survivors. And for anyone seeking to find light within the journey of life.
From the Back Cover
"The thought of my three year old son, who waited for me for two years while I was buried in the hell of Hamas, is what gave me the strength to survive the harshest and most brutal torture, the psychological abuse, and the attempts to break me, to beat me, and to starve me to the edge. They took pleasure in the sight of death, and every day I prayed for the light, and our light defeated their darkness."
After 738 days in the hell of Hamas, fifty meters underground, I bring the story of my life. 738 days in Hamas captivity. A book that takes readers into a powerful and shaking human experience, and into the stories of hostages that were never told, forming a document of deep human and historical importance.
Despite the torture, the hunger, and the psychological battles, I held every day to the hope of returning to my wife Rivka and to my son David Re'em.
The story of my life begins long before the abduction. With two unimaginable incidents in which my life was saved by miracle, and with my meeting Rivka, who chose to convert and join the Jewish people, without knowing that she would soon become a symbol of strength.
In the book I also share moments of survival and existential questions. How in extreme hunger I managed to stay alive. What was the meaning of Marlin, the silent doll I created with my own hands. How we marked Rosh Hashanah through the drawing of a fish. How I dug with my own hands a tunnel together with the captors in order to save my life. And which psychological struggles unfolded between us.
Even when my body weakened and turned into scarred and ill bones, I continued to see the light in front of those whose purpose in life was death. In the end the light prevailed. And I returned from it alive.
Channel 12 Interview
In a recent interview I gave on Channel 12 I spoke quietly, yet from a place of truth and maturity, about my journey, about the strength of family, and about the path through which I continue forward.
Watch the Full InterviewLectures
I am about to begin a lecture tour in Israel and around the world, where I will share my story in my own voice as it is.
In my lectures I will speak about hope in extreme situations. About psychological resilience in the face of fear and uncertainty. About love and family as a force that saves lives. About responsibility and leadership in moments of crisis. And about the complex path of life after returning from captivity.
As part of the lecture tour I will meet with organizations. Educational and academic institutions. Therapeutic teams. Companies. Communities. And professional conferences.
In every encounter I will bring my heart as it is. With truth. With tenderness and pain. With moments of quiet joy. And with inspiration. From a deep wish to awaken inner strength in every person who sits before me.
I would like to book a lecture.
Book a Lecture
Path and Vision
Since returning home I see my mission as a broader path. A path of healing. Of gentle and respectful conversation about trauma and about life. Of social responsibility. And of hope.
I work to raise awareness. To support bereaved families and former hostages. And to share my story so that all of us may have a little more strength.
I believe in love. In unity. And in our ability to choose life.
Get in Touch
I invite you to be part of my journey. To book a lecture. To receive updates about the book. To collaborate. Or to send a kind word.
Healing & Rehabilitation
The process of healing for my family and me is an ongoing journey. For those who wish to take part and support this journey, it is a great honor for me.
Support and Rehabilitation