The Fed and Magen David Adom UK were honoured to welcome Eliya Cohen, who spent 505 days in Hamas captivity, as the special guest speaker at a joint Young Patrons event in Manchester.

The moving evening brought together members of the community to hear Eliya’s firsthand account of survival, courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

Eliya spoke about the events of 7 October and how he and his fiancée, Ziv Abud, survived the initial Hamas attack after fleeing the Nova music festival. Seeking refuge in a shelter, they hid among the bodies of those who had been murdered in an attempt to stay alive. While Ziv survived, Eliya was later discovered and taken hostage into Gaza.

Sharing details of his 505 days in captivity, Eliya described being held in both civilian homes and deep underground tunnels. Despite enduring extreme conditions, isolation and repeated acts of cruelty, he spoke powerfully about the strength he drew from his faith and the determination that helped him endure.

Throughout his testimony, Eliya reflected on the importance of hope, belief and inner resilience, describing how these values sustained him through the darkest moments of his captivity.

The evening began with remarks from Mark Goldstone, Trustee of Magen David Adom UK, and Raphi Bloom, The Fed’s Director of Fundraising & Marketing and lead of the My Voice Project.

Mark shared the inspiring story of an MDA medic in Sderot who constructed a giant menorah from the remnants of Hamas rockets and placed it on the roof of the local Magen David Adom station. The symbol was created in the hope that hostages might see it and draw strength from it, serving as a powerful reminder of resilience and hope during a time of crisis.

In his opening remarks, Raphi Bloom reflected on the parallels between the experiences of Holocaust survivors and those taken hostage on 7 October. He spoke about the extraordinary resilience demonstrated by Jews throughout history, highlighting how faith, identity and hope have endured even in the most challenging circumstances.

He also spoke of the responsibility shared by today’s Jewish community to live proudly, stand confidently in their identity and ensure that these stories continue to be told and remembered by future generations.

The evening concluded with remarks from Joshua Diamond, Magen David Adom UK’s Director of Fundraising, who spoke about “Machratayim” (“The Day After Tomorrow”), an initiative focused on hope, healing and building a better future. He ended on a note of optimism by offering his congratulations to Eliya and Ziv on their forthcoming wedding, describing it as the beginning of a new and hopeful chapter in their lives.

As a lifelong Manchester United supporter, Eliya was also treated earlier in the day to a private tour of Old Trafford and the club’s museum. To mark his visit, he was presented with a Manchester United shirt bearing his name and the number 18, representing Chai, the Hebrew symbol for life.

In closing his address, Eliya shared a deeply personal message about the importance of cherishing loved ones, expressing gratitude, and seeking light even during life’s darkest moments. His words left a profound impact on those in attendance and served as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit.

The Fed and Magen David Adom UK would like to thank Eliya for sharing his remarkable story, and all those who attended for helping to make the evening such a meaningful and memorable occasion.