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 Caribbean, 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!

Four Facts for The Week of Parashat Pinchas

1. This week, following the fast of the 17th of Tammuz on Sunday, we entered the period known as the Three Weeks (also called Bein HaMetzarim — “Between the Straits”), which lasts until Tisha B’Av. On the 17th of Tammuz, the walls of Jerusalem were breached; on Tisha B’Av, the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed. These are days marked by mourning customs that connect us, year after year, to the destruction and what is still missing — but also to hope and faith.
2. This week’s Torah portion is Pinchas, the eighth portion in the Sefer Bamidbar. Among the many topics in the portion:
   – A national census of Bnei Yisrael
   – The division of the Land of Israel among the tribes
   – The offerings brought in the Beit Hamikdash (on weekdays, Shabbat, and holidays)
   – Moshe’s farewell, as he is told he will not enter the Land of Israel.
3. In this portion, God informs Moshe that Yehoshua bin Nun will be his successor; his sons will not inherit his leadership. This teaches us that leadership is not simply an inheritance; it comes through dedication, talent, and commitment.
4. On Shabbat morning, after the Torah reading, we read the haftara. This week’s selection includes a beautiful and well-known verse expressing the loyalty of the Jewish people during their forty years in the wilderness — and, more broadly, the loyalty, covenant, and unbroken bond that has lasted for thousands of years, to this day: “Thus says Hashem: I remember the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal — how you followed Me into the wilderness, into a land not sown” (Yirmiyahu 2:2).

Breaking News: Korach’s Sons Did Not Die!

 Four of the most optimistic words in the entire Torah appear in this week’s parashah: “U’venai Korach lo meitu—Korach’s sons did not die.”

In the parashah of Korach three weeks ago, we read how Korach led a bold rebellion against Moshe that resulted in the tragic deaths of many people. Until now we had assumed that Korach and his entire family had perished in that disaster. But it turns out that moments before their impending death, Korach’s sons regretted their part in the rebellion. 

Rashi writes: “[They were originally in the plot, but] at the moment that the rebellion broke out they had thoughts of repentance in their hearts.” At the last moment, they realized their father’s terrible mistake and decided to remove themselves from the dispute. Consequently, they didn’t die with everyone else. 

The message is clear: Even if you have followed a misguided course, if you have made a mistake, you can still extricate yourself before it’s too late. You can muster the courage to stand up to society, your family, even to a dominant father or charismatic leader, and declare with conviction: “I’ve gone too far. I made a mistake. I change my mind.”