Kehillat Kernow member leads interfaith vigil for the hostages

Truro’s Lemon Quay was filled with quiet determination as Cynthia Hollinsworth of Kehillat Kernow, Cornwall’s Progressive Jewish community, helped to lead an interfaith gathering to raise awareness of the 50 hostages still being held by Hamas.

Jews were from joined by Christian friends from across the county, as together they stood in peaceful unity, their posters telling the stories of lives stolen and hopes for those still in captivity.

Bar Abraham Kupershtein, aged just 23, was shown on one of the posters. He was working as a security guard at the Nova music festival on October 7th. At home, he had been the main provider for his family, caring for four younger siblings and helping support his father, who was left disabled by a car accident. His father’s rehabilitation, learning to walk and speak again, are driven by the hope of seeing Bar released.

Cynthia, a community educator, said: “Our prayers are a call for the safe return of all the hostages, and healing for the hostages and their families.”

The message from Cornwall’s interfaith community was clear: these hostages must not be forgotten, and every effort made to bring them home.