“May the 59 hostages be home soon,” she said. “Gali and Ziv Berman are very close friends of mine. I hope they bring them home today.”
Addressing the crowd, Emily said: “Thank you to everyone for praying for and shouting my name without knowing me. Thank you, I don’t have the words to say how much I am thankful for. All of you are amazing and I hope Spurs are going to win today.
"Am Yisrael Chai. I am home finally. With you it is more than home, it is like family," Emily said.
The crowd chanted the words they had been waiting months to say: "She’s one of our own, she’s one of our own, Emily Damari, she’s finally home."
There were tragic reminders that there are still many hostages in Hamas captivity. As well as posters for the remaining 59 hostages, and the balloons in their name, the crowd heard from Asi Sharabi, the second cousin of hostage Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old talented pianist.
Asi revealed that for the first 491 days of Alon’s captivity, there had been no word of his survival. Only with the release of fellow hostage Eli Sharabi on day 492 did the family receive their first sign of life.
According to testimonies from released hostages, Alon is “wounded, chained and has lost sight in one eye.” Asi called for the “strongest international pressure” to end the war and urged supporters in Britain to write to their MPs, attend vigils, and share Alon’s story.
Emily’s presence had a clear impact on those gathered and many were emotional.
Community organiser Itai, from Stop the Hate, thanked the “poster fairies” who plastered London with hostage posters and addressed Emily directly: “You become a symbol for all hostages, a story that touched the nation. We are inspired by your strength and resilience.
“Today your presence gives us hope for the remaining 59 hostages still waiting for freedom, including Ziv, Gali and Olan. We stand together with one voice: release the hostages now, let our people go.”
Speaking to the JC, Itai added: “It is a special moment because it is the climax of a very long campaign. It is an amazing sensation when a plan comes together.”
He went on: “I didn’t dare dream of this possibility. In the back of your head, that’s the best-case scenario — but we’re Jews. We plan for the worst and hope for the best.”
Another activist, Michelle, said she had been campaigning outside Parliament for Emily and the other hostages and was visibly moved by seeing Emily. “We came today to support and to show Emily our love and how happy we are that she has been released. Seeing her was amazing and overwhelming.”
Local supporter Jeremy Wootliff, who started the Spurs campaign for Emily and wrote a chant in her name to the tune of the Harry Kane song, told the JC: “I saw that Emily is British and most people in Britain didn’t know she was in a terror tunnel with the monsters of Hamas.”
Seeing her at Spurs, he said, “meant the world.”
Before heading into the stadium, where she sat in a private box and met Spurs midfielder James Maddison and club legends Gary Mabbutt, Ossie Ardiles and Ledley King, Emily bent down to stroke a small dog in the crowd.
Emily thanks the community who prayed for her
The day before the match, Emily was the guest of honour at Highgate United Synagogue, which had “adopted” her during her captivity. For months, an empty chair had been left in her name. On Shabbat, that chair was finally filled.
Some 400 people packed into the shul – more than attend on the High Holy Days – to welcome Emily. As she entered, the congregation rose to their feet in a prolonged and spontaneous standing ovation.
Though she had not been expected to speak, Emily asked to address the community from the bimah, thanking Highgate for their support and prayers. She also thanked her mother and brothers for their tireless work to bring her home.
Emily revealed that during captivity, she and fellow hostages had access to a small siddur, which they used daily. She then led the community in prayer.
Her mother Mandy – a British-born kindergarten teacher who became one of the most visible faces of the families’ campaign – also spoke and was introduced by Rabbi Nicky Liss as “the bravest woman I know”.
Mandy last addressed the congregation on Rosh Hashanah. Six months later, she stood on the bimah again – this time with Emily at her side – to thank the community for its continued support.
She told congregants that Emily will soon be moving from near the hospital where she is being treated in Israel to an apartment closer to her family. She also said that Emily is expected to undergo several more operations, including to remove shrapnel from her leg and improve the functionality of her hand, which was shot by Hamas.
Rabbi Liss recited the Shehecheyanu and read aloud the names of the 59 hostages still in Hamas captivity. He also thanked his wife, Rebbetzen Shuli Liss, and PR professional Emily Cohen for their work in supporting the campaign and planning Emily's visit.
Highgate co-chair Natalie Smith spoke from the bimah and described the moment as “a triumph of hope over evil”, adding that the Shabbat would “go down in our community’s history”.
The service concluded with a rousing rendition of Adon Olam, sung by hundreds in relief and celebration.