In Passover address, PM Netanyahu highlights empty chairs – not for Elijah, but for hostages

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a Passover message to the citizens of Israel, addressing the nation’s ongoing security challenges, particularly the case of the hostages, saying, “This holiday, in many families, there will be empty chairs.”

Netanyahu drew on the existing Jewish tradition of leaving an empty chair for the prophet Elijah during the Passover Seder, based on the scripture in Malachi 4:5: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible Day of the Lord comes.” 

"My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, on Seder night, we all gather with our loved ones and we all tell the story of our people who came out of slavery and into freedom. But on this holiday, in many families, there will be empty chairs."

However, instead of the chair for Elijah, Netanyahu referenced the empty chairs for many families who have lost loved ones or have hostages remaining in captivity in Gaza. 

“Chairs of our kidnapped loved ones, who are still in Hamas captivity, chairs of those who fell heroically on the battlefield, and chairs of our wounded loved ones, who are struggling to come back to life in the rehabilitation wards.” 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"My brothers and sisters,
Citizens of Israel.

On Seder night, we all gather with our loved ones, and we all tell the story of our people who went out from slavery to freedom.

But on this holiday for many families there will be empty chairs. pic.twitter.com/0iETxOga3A

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 11, 2025

The prime minister called on the nation to take hope and strength from the story of deliverance and from Israel’s recent victories, drawing a parallel between the current situation and the Exodus story. 

“On October 7, there were those who believed that we would drown in the sea in front of the enemy armies. Not only did we not drown, but we rose as one man, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, we broke the axis of evil.” 

Netanyahu urged the nation to draw strength from the fallen heroes, as well, quoting a letter from a fallen soldier, sent to his family shortly before his death. 

“But from this emptiness [referring to the empty seats], the clear voices of our fallen heroes arise, like the last message of Elkanah Wiesel, may his memory be a blessing, who wrote to his family: 'Don't be sad when you say goodbye to me. Sing – strengthen each other. Because we are a generation of redemption.’” 

“Indeed, we are the generation of rebirth, the generation of Victory,” Netanyahu continued. “Together we will return our hostages, together we will defeat our enemies, together we will embrace our wounded and together we will bow our heads in memory of our fallen.” 

“The entire world looks in wonder at our ancient people, who time and again prevail over those who seek our lives,” Netanyahu continued. 

“In every generation, they rise up against us, and the Holy One, blessed be He, and the spirit of our warriors save us from their hands,” the prime minister said, paraphrasing the words of a traditional Passover song, V’HisheAmdah, which is taken from the traditional Haggadah.

“Congratulations on the holiday of freedom, a Kosher Passover holiday to all the people of Israel. Thank you.”