Former Gaza hostage Or Levy visited a home for children in the South African capital of Pretoria, where he met with dozens of orphaned children. At the Bramley Children’s Home, Levy met with children who could relate to his young son, who was left without a mother after the October 7 massacre.
The meeting was arranged by local Jewish congregations, the Jewish National Fund of South Africa, and the Israeli Embassy there to bring attention to the ongoing struggle to get the hostages back home.
The South African Jewish community collected 100 teddy bears to distribute to children at the orphanage in memory of Levy’s late wife, Einav, who was murdered at the Nova festival. Levy was kidnapped from the same festival, with his son orphaned from both parents for 491 days until his father’s release from Hamas captivity in February 2025.
This led Levy to choose to honor his late wife’s legacy by arranging activities for children who are without parents.
Levy was released alongside Hamas hostages Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi. The three appeared weak, frightened, and frail upon their release.
Levy, who is now raising his son as a single parent, drew from his personal experience to share a message with the children he visited. His message? People are defined not by the tragedies they live through, but by the way they respond to them.
Levy was released alongside Hamas hostages Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi. The three appeared weak, frightened, and frail upon their release.
'To act with kindness and humanity – and not with hatred'
Levy, who is now raising his son as a single parent, drew from his personal experience to share a message with the children he visited. His message? People are defined not by the tragedies they live through, but by the way they respond to them.
“The choice must be to act with kindness and humanity – and not with hatred,” Levy said.
His South Africa visit was part of an initiative between JNF South Africa and the Base Synagogue to provide returned hostages and their families with additional healing opportunities while enjoying what the country has to offer.
“We have been traveling around South Africa for two weeks. Hugged by the amazing Jewish community of South Africa, we feel very welcome here. We have been surprised by the disconnection between the policies of the South African government and the people of South Africa, who are very supportive of Israel and the hostages,” Levy said in a statement.
“I’m telling my story in South Africa so people understand better what is going on after seeing so much inaccurate and misleading information in the media. We feel blessed for this opportunity to visit South Africa. But I’m waiting for the moment when all the hostages can visit this beautiful country and put these horrible times behind us.”
"We have been traveling around South Africa for two weeks. Hugged by the amazing Jewish community of South Africa, we feel very welcome here. We have been surprised by the disconnection between the policies of the South African government and the people of South Africa, who are very supportive of Israel and the hostages,” Levy said in a statement.
“I’m telling my story in South Africa so people understand better what is going on after seeing so much inaccurate and misleading information in the media. We feel blessed for this opportunity to visit South Africa. But I’m waiting for the moment when all the hostages can visit this beautiful country and put these horrible times behind us."
Upon Levy’s release from captivity, his family said they looked forward to their first embrace with him when they were reunited.
“We eagerly await[ed] the moment when little Almog and Or will finally reunite, an embrace we’ve yearned for with every breath,” they said in February on his release day.
“In the midst of these emotions, our thoughts turn to Einav, of blessed memory, Almog’s mother, who was murdered on that cursed day. Her loss has left an enormous void in all our hearts. We believe she’s watching from above, happy to see Almog finally receiving his father’s embrace. Her memory and her way will always guide us,” the family concluded.
Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.