PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Alongside the Independence Mall lawn sits a table with more than 200 empty chairs, flowers and balloons.
At each seat is a picture of each civilian being held hostage in Gaza following their surprise attack on Israel earlier this month, accompanied by either an empty wine glass or sippy cup.
It’s an art installation called the Shabbat table — it started in Tel Aviv and has been gaining traction around the world, including here in Philadelphia.
The table has no attendees, but rather posters with pictures, names, and ages of those kidnapped. Rabbi Yosef Zarnighian chanted a blessing to bring back the captives.
“You know how we talk about the six degrees of separation? There's one degree of separation in Israel. And so everybody in Israel knows somebody that represented around that table,” said Rabbi Howard Cove who came out to see the table after hearing about it on social media.
In addition to the posters surrounding the table, organizers of the installation were seen wearing posters with information about those who were kidnapped on the backs of their shirts.
“It's Emma and Yulie — they are twins, and I have twins,” said co-organizer Michal Mary. “So, for me, it's close to my heart. They're three years old. My twins are 14. My heart goes to them. I can really imagine what's going on with them at Gaza underground in those tunnels. I don't know if they have anything to eat, if they’re drinking enough, if they sleep, who's taking care of them?”
As of Friday, a reported 229 people have been taken hostage. So far, four people have been released — an American woman and her teenage daughter last week, and two older Israeli women this week.