No Eye Was Left Dry: Eli Bibas Lit Chanukiah and Cried Out for Ariel and Kfir. Watch

"I am Eli Bibas, father and grandfather of a kidnapped family, four hundred forty-six days, praying for their return. On the first day of Chanukah, a time of light and salvation," Bibas began his remarks just before lighting the candles.

"With the merit of the days of Chanukah, days of miracles and redemption, we pray to You from the depths of our hearts. Please, return my son Yarden, my grandchildren Ariel and Kfir, my daughter-in-law Shiri, and all our captives home soon.

"Strengthen their spirits and their grieving families. Just as You saved Your people in the days of the Hasmoneans, perform miracles and wonders for us today as well," Bibas concluded his remarks.

The crowds answered 'amen' with emotion and blessed the excited father and grandfather, hoping he will soon hear the good news about the return of his family from Gazan captivity.

Bibas was honored with lighting the Chanukiah in Rabin Square, considered the tallest Chanukiah in Israel. For decades it has been placed in the Tel Aviv square, gathering crowds every evening for the lighting conducted by the central Tel Aviv rabbi and Chabad emissary, Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Gerlitzky.

Alongside the Chanukiah in Rabin Square, 195 public Chanukiot are lit every evening in Tel Aviv by Chabad emissaries. Every night, city residents gather around the Chanukiot for the lightings, where they watch the lighting, sing Chanukah songs, hear a Torah lesson, and taste sufganiyot and latkes.

"The Rebbe encouraged over the years the importance of publicizing the miracle through public Chanukiot," said Rabbi Gerlitzky, "and today we see how those Chanukiot not only publicize the miracle but also unite all parts of the nation, in Tel Aviv and every point in the country and the world."