Host Steven Shalowitz speaks with former hostage Tal Shoham, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 and held in Gaza for 505 days. Tal recalls the terrifying moments of barricading with his family and ultimately surrendering to prevent a deadly attack—an instinct he later learned likely saved their lives. After an initial period of solitary confinement and transfers between apartments, he was moved underground, where he spent over eight months in tunnels.
There, alongside fellow hostages Omer, Guy, and Evyatar, Tal endured extreme conditions but found strength in brotherhood, black humor, mindfulness, and faith. He even shared coping strategies and creative ways to track time, helping his companions sustain hope through the uncertainty.
After weeks of false rumors and a staged propaganda release, Tal was finally freed in February 2025 and reunited with his wife Adi and their children. While grateful to be home, he remains deeply committed to advocating for those still in captivity—especially his friends Guy and Evyatar. In sharing his story, Tal urges the world to confront Hamas’s cruelty, keep pressure for the release of every hostage, and embrace life fully without allowing terrorists to steal our joy.
Tal Shoham spent 505 days in captivity after being abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023. Since his release in February 2025, he has become a powerful advocate for the remaining hostages, using his story to inspire hope, raise awareness, and call for their safe return.