Houston man’s cousin among 20 hostages freed in emotional release

The recent Israeli hostage release hit close to home for a man in southwest Houston—his cousin, Eitan Mor, was among the 20 hostages freed Monday.

“I saw a brief video of his reunion with his mom and dad, and he looked relatively healthy to me,” Kellerman said. “He looked a little dazed and disoriented, which of course would be very understandable. But it’s hard to really know what he suffered. I’m a psychologist, and I’m sure he has a lot of traumas to work through, as does his family. That work is just beginning. But at least there’s something to work with because he’s here and he’s alive.”

Dr. Alan Kellerman said Mor was working the Nova Festival, a music festival, two years ago when a terror attack occurred. Mor kept going back to try to save people. The last time he went back to help, he was taken hostage.

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Kellerman said he held onto hope even when things looked uncertain. Though he has never met Mor face to face, he is close with his family and has stayed connected throughout this challenging time.

“I don’t know that I ever lost hope. I prayed every day for the hostages, sometimes many times a day. I’m somebody who thinks that God hears prayers and hopefully answers them in a good way. And today, I think our family feels like our prayers have been answered.” said Kellerman.

Kellerman is currently in Israel visiting his grandchildren. He said he won’t get to see Mor before he leaves, but for now, videos of his cousin’s release bring him comfort, even as he remembers others who weren’t as lucky.

“I think the mood here in Israel is rather celebratory,” Kellerman said. “Relief and celebration would be the overall mood, although emotionally it’s a complicated situation because there are people who aren’t as fortunate and who are suffering loss and grief and uncertainty.”

Kellerman says he will be flying back home to Houston soon but hopes to return to Israel later this year. He looks forward to getting to know his cousin during that next trip.