Beyond The Headlines: Choosing the Path of Faith Together

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news.

(L to R) Sapir Cohen, Sasha Troupanov and Rabbi Asher Federman, Chabad emissary of the Virgin Islands

One day, I hope the children of Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen read this article. I hope they come to understand just how meaningful, and how transformative their parents’ story truly is.

Even Sasha and Sapir may not fully realize how closely the global Jewish community has followed them since the day they were taken captive. This week, with the news of their engagement, I found myself revisiting the moments that revealed just how profoundly these two young Israelis have touched our people.

Here are a few:

1. Rostov: A Community’s Adopted Son

The story begins in Rostov, in southern Russia. Irina, the family’s grandmother, made aliyah from there with her daughter Yelena, son-in-law Yevgeny, and their only child, Sasha. They settled in Kibbutz Nir Oz — a quiet life, a small family.

On October 7, that life was shattered. Yevgeny was murdered. Irina, Yelena, Sasha, and Sapir were taken hostage.

The tragedy sent shockwaves through Rostov’s Jewish community, some 15,000 strong. Rabbi Chaim Danzinger, the city’s Chabad emissary, says Sasha became “Rostov’s child.” His image appeared everywhere. Daily events were held in his merit.

Following their return from Gaza, Irina and Yelena became religious and began speaking to the community regularly via Zoom — in fluent Russian, with heartfelt words.

“We were with them during their darkest days,” Rabbi Danzinger said. “If it were possible, thousands of Jews from Rostov would attend the wedding.”

2. New York: Sapir’s Summer of Strength

Rabbi Shay Schachter of the Young Israel of Woodmere gives a glimpse into Sapir’s post-release journey: “We’ve been with Sapir since she returned in the first hostage deal,” he recalls. “I invited her to speak at our shul for a few days. She ended up staying over two months. A whole summer with American Jewry. Dozens of events, endless encounters. She gained strength here, and gave strength in return.”

The effect was widespread. “You can’t count how many Jews and non-Jews changed their perspective on Israel and Judaism just from meeting her,” Rabbi Schachter says. “She became a messenger.”

At the time, she didn’t yet know if Sasha was alive. She often spoke about her spiritual transformation — and her concern that Sasha might not accept it. But when he was finally released, even before setting foot on the ground, Sasha said to her from the helicopter: “I know there is a God.”

Sapir later said that moment was transformative. It was proof that faith wouldn’t divide them, it would unite them. “This week, when I saw their engagement photo,” said Rabbi Schachter, “I cried. Who would have believed it?”

3. Kfar HaMaccabiah: Discovering the Mitzvah of Tefillin

The morning after Sasha’s release, Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar, arrived at Kfar HaMaccabiah. Throughout the 18 months of captivity, he had spoken to Yelena daily, providing both emotional support and diplomatic advocacy, even lobbying President Putin.

He brought a pair of tefillin with him, though he had no intention of offering them. Sasha had never had a bar mitzvah, never worn tefillin. After all he had been through, the murder of his father, the trauma of captivity, how could such an act possibly resonate?

But something shifted.

In an interview with Kfar Chabad magazine, Sasha later shared: “Before the kidnapping, I knew Judaism only through negative headlines. I thought I was a rational, worldly young man.

In captivity, I began to pray, I started to believe. But I had no knowledge. When my mother introduced me to Rabbi Lazar, I was shocked. I thought Haredim didn’t like questions. That religion was about avoiding questions. That religious people didn’t accept others. But it was the opposite. He answered all my questions. He shattered my stereotypes. I used to refuse tefillin, but now, I wanted them.

He told me this would be my bar mitzvah.

Rabbi Lazar added: “After putting on tefillin, I always tell the person: ‘This is a moment of connection with God — an open line.’ I said that to Sasha and was struck by how seriously he took it. He closed his eyes and spoke to God, in his own words, for minutes on end.”

Off to the side Yelena stood, crying quietly. “It was the first time in a year and a half that I saw that strong, resilient woman cry,” Rabbi Lazar said.

4. Nir Oz: Returning to Ruins

The family has returned multiple times to their destroyed home in Nir Oz — the place from which they were taken. There, they recited a layered, emotional prayer: A memorial for Yevgeny and other victims.

A thanksgiving for their survival.

A plea for those still held captive.

“There are chambers in the heart,” Sasha said. “Enough space to hold all the complexity. All the emotions.”

Their story doesn’t end there. I saw them during Selichot at the Kotel, surrounded by thousands. I saw Yelena praying at Kever Rachel with extraordinary intensity.

Even their engagement became a global moment. It happened this week in the Virgin Islands, hosted by a local Jewish community that had never seen anything like it. More than 100 Jews came to hear them speak. “The body may be far away,” Sasha told them, “but the soul is always free.”

And once again, they reached and uplifted even the furthest corners of the Jewish world.

Mazel tov, Sasha and Sapir!

A Heartfelt Message from a Single

Not long after hearing the wonderful news from Sasha and Sapir, I received the following poignant letter from a 37-year-old single. He related that shortly after returning from army reserve duty, he attended a conference on the topic of helping singles find a spouse. 

“It’s difficult to describe how meaningful this experience was for me,” he shared. “We heard professionals on this subject as well as spiritual advisors, all of whom were focused on the best way to establish new homes in Israel. Not only was it clear that the speakers were personally invested in the matter, but I felt as though they had put all my thoughts in their proper perspective.”

Among the participants were Eliyahu and Avishag Libman, parents of Elyakim Libman, Hy”d — a guard at the Nova Festival who saved many lives before he was murdered. Eliyahu and Avishag spoke about the matchmaking project they had undertaken in their son’s memory, since Eliyakim had not been zocheh to marry.  

Eliyahu and Avishag Libman, parents of Elyakim Libman Hy"d

“Suddenly, in the middle of the conference, we received the tragic news that three more soldiers had fallen in Gaza. Yet it is especially when there is catastrophe and destruction, when a vacuum has been created by a loss, that we need to be extra diligent in filling the void. Many Torah scrolls are being dedicated to the fallen, and many initiatives are underway to perpetuate their memory, but it is also important, I believe, to take the Libmans’ example and think about an unmarried friend and suggest someone for them to meet.

“Of all the discussions in the Knesset, perhaps this gathering will have the most lasting impact.”

Translated by Yehoshua Siskin, Janine Muller Sherr

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