Troufanov, who has close ties to the Chabad community through Russia’s chief rabbi, Berel Lazar—who visited him after his release—began his U.S. visit in Crown Heights, the heart of the Chabad movement.
Senior members of the community welcomed Troufanov and his partner, Sapir Cohen—herself a former Hamas captive—granting them access to the personal study of the Lubavitcher Rebbe inside the famed 770 Eastern Parkway synagogue. There, Troufanov put on tefillin and recited prayers.
Accompanied by Rabbi Menachem Kotlarsky and Rabbi Levi Lazar, son of Rabbi Berel Lazar, Troufanov toured the synagogue and other significant Chabad sites before proceeding to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s gravesite. He joined hundreds of visitors in prayer, offering blessings for the release of the remaining hostages and for the people of Israel.
Since his release, Troufanov has remained vocal about the plight of those still held in Gaza. Shortly after regaining his freedom, he appeared in a video message during a rally in Tel Aviv, saying: “It was important for me to record this because, even though I was released recently, I think about the hostages still there every single day. It never leaves my mind. Every hour, every minute that I am here, I still can’t fully grasp that I am free while others remain captive.”
