NOVEMBER 30 • 2023 | 41

meaningful to me that 
MSU Chabad and Hillel 
made active efforts to 
bring students to D.C. to 
be with the greater Jewish 
community. I am constantly 
praying for Omer’s release 
along with the 240 other 
hostages, and hopefully that 
day will come soon.”
Orna Neutra, Omer’s 
mother, spoke at the D.C. 
March about her son who 
was taken captive while on 
active military duty. She 
said that after graduating 
high school, Omer took 
a gap year in Israel to 

connect with his roots. In 
Israel he grew closer with 
his new Israeli friends. 
“So, being the person that 
he is, he made the decision 
to join his new friends 
and serve in the IDF and 
protect the country.”
Neutra said Omer is “a 
dual citizen of both the 
United States and Israel 
and was raised with a love 
and passion for both of 
his homelands,” and she 
hopes for the safe return 
of her son who is “a warm, 
optimistic and people- 
loving person.” 

Nate Strauss holds the 
Israeli flag in front of 
the MSU delegation.

Students with MSU 
Chabad arriving at 
Dulles International 
Airport in Virginia.