Judith Raanan, who with her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were the first hostages Hamas released, Oct. 20, 2023, will share her story of survival, hope, and faith at Chabad’s Mega Challah/Babka Bake for women and girls, 7 p.m., Thursday, March 19.

A dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who lives in Evanston, Ill., she and her daughter were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nahal Oz by Hamas-led terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023.

The mother and daughter were in Israel for Judith’s mother’s 85th birthday and celebrated Simchat Torah at her kibbutz, about a mile from the Gaza border.

Judith and Natalie Raanan were among the 251 hostages that Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups abducted to Gaza that Saturday morning.

Judith Raanan began telling her story at the urging of her Chabad rabbi in Evanston, Ill., Rabbi Meir Hecht, according to Chabad.org.

The Chabad Women’s Circle program is open to girls ages 10 and up. The cost is $36 per person. Chabad is located at 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. RSVP by March 15 at chabaddayton.com/cwc.

To read the complete March 2026 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.