Omer Wenkert: They Tortured and Starved Me in Gaza - But Hashem Never Left Me
January 17, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readOmer Wenkert was taken from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, and held by Hamas for 505 days. He spent 197 of those days in total isolation underground. During that time, he was starved, beaten with an iron stick, sprayed with insecticide, and told explicitly by his captors that their goal was to drive him insane. Yet he says something remarkable: “I was 197 days alone, and I didn’t feel alone for a second.” This conversation with Yaakov Langer is not a chronology of horrors, though the horrors are there. It is an account of how a 23-year-old Israeli civilian, who before October 7 was a secular restaurant manager, found a way to survive by reorienting his relationship to hope, gratitude, and God.
The Moment He Accepted His New Reality
Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.
Read Full Summary →Free • No credit card required
Never miss an episode of Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer
Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What you'll learn
- 1 (02:01) **Childhood and Pre-Captivity Life** - Omer describes growing up in Gadera, his army service despite a medical exemption, and his dream of managing restaurants.
- 2 (04:42) **The Attack at the Shelter** - Omer recounts the terrifying morning when Hamas terrorists attacked the shelter in Reim with grenades and fire.
- 3 (12:13) **Accepting Captivity** - Omer describes the moment he was kidnapped and the mental strategy he adopted to survive.
- 4 (15:14) **Learning Kim Didn't Survive** - Omer reveals that his first question upon release was about his friend Kim, and he learned she did not survive.
- 5 (17:10) **First Days Underground with Liam** - Omer describes being placed in a small underground cube with four Thai hostages and Liam Or, an 18-year-old shot in the stomach.
- 6 (23:43) **Spiritual Transformation Underground** - Omer explains how his relationship with Judaism shifted dramatically during captivity.
- 7 (27:45) **197 Days of Solitary Confinement** - Omer details how he coped after Liam was released and he was left completely alone.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Inspiration for the Nation is the weekly Jewish podcast from Living Lchaim, hosted by Yaakov Langer.
Survivor Omer Wenkert recounts his 505-day Hamas captivity, including 197 days in total isolation underground after being kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival on October 7. He endured torture, starvation, and psychological abuse, yet found faith, resilience, and hope in God. His powerful testimony of survival, Jewish identity, and belief in peace despite trauma sheds light on the human cost of terror, mental endurance, and spiritual transformation under unimaginable darkness.
More From Omer:
→ Donate Here: https://bit.ly/4bC4R5U
→ Book Him: email [email protected]
✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬
► United Refua Healthshare: Spend Less, Save More, Get Care
Imagine healthcare that puts you first - and can save you thousands.
Enroll here
→ 440-772-0700
→ Eli's Kosher Money Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnNaMEumWQg&t=4s
► BitBean: Smart Custom Software Built for You
Yaakov here. Just make the call. They can help you.
Reach Out Here
→ https://bitbean.link/MeEBlY
► New Book: One For The Books!
Exciting collections of relatable stories about real people and their challenges. A veritable treasure chest of Hashem’s kindnesses and breathtaking hashgachah pratis, these narratives will engage readers and provide chizuk and inspiration.
15% OFF with code INSPIRE
→ One For The Books: https://bit.ly/4jJXUSt
→ Another One For The Books:https://bit.ly/4pJ8daH
► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car Company
For over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery.
Call today!
→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715
→ EMAIL: [email protected]
→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU
→ WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce
► Woodmont College: Smart Future
The right way to take your career seriously.
More here More from this podcast