Freed Kfar Aza hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel to address Limmud Festival
Kfar Aza couple kidnapped on 7 October will appear at this year’s Limmud Festival in Birmingham
Limmud Festival has announced that Keith and Aviva Siegel – the Kfar Aza couple kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October 2023 – will speak at this year’s event, marking one of the most high-profile additions to the 2025 programme.
The Siegels, married for 44 years, were seized from their home during the attack that devastated their kibbutz. Aviva spent 51 days in Gaza before her release, while Keith remained in captivity for 484 days. Since returning home, both have become prominent voices calling for the release of the remaining hostages and for continued international pressure to secure their freedom.
Their session is expected to draw significant attention at the UK’s largest annual Jewish learning event, which runs from 26-31 December at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
Limmud said it was “honoured” to welcome the couple to Festival 2025, with full programming details to be announced closer to the event.
Other newly confirmed presenters include Angela Mattar, a Palestinian activist with the Jewish-Arab movement Standing Together; BBC World Service journalist Tim Franks, whose latest book explores identity and belonging; and Rabbi Aviva Richman, a Rosh Yeshiva at the Hadar Institute and a leading scholar of Talmud, Halachah and gender.
Now in its 45th year, Limmud Festival remains one of the most anticipated fixtures of the British Jewish calendar, drawing thousands for five days of learning, debate, culture, and community.
To find out more about Limmud Festival, click here.
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