For 330 days, since the massacre by Hamas on October 7 and throughout the horrific months of violence, trauma, and uncertainty that followed, the families of Israeli hostages have refused to give up hope that their loved ones would return home alive.
These young people were loved deeply in this world. They should be alive today, home with their families.
Last night we learned that these six hostages, who survived nearly a year in Hamas captivity, were murdered in a tunnel in Rafah. They did not “die” as some news outlets are reporting. They were, it has now been confirmed by forensic autopsies, shot by Hamas at close range, executed in cold blood, so as not to be rescued by approaching IDF troops.
Our hearts break for their loved ones. The pain their families are enduring, have endured, and will have to live with is unimaginable.
Let the world recognize that Hamas is a terrorist organization whose heinous actions know no boundaries. Let the world leaders join together to force the leaders of Hamas to return all of the remaining hostages and surrender, so that this war – brutal to Palestinians, to Israelis, and to all people in the region – might swiftly come to an end. And may Israel recommit to being an Or Lagoyim, a light to the nations, shining a way forward with hope and peace.
May the memories of Hersh, Carmel, Alex, Eden, Ori and Almog reverberate as a blessing in this world for generations to come, inspiring us to strive always toward greater humanity. Toward justice. Toward peace.
The Jewish community is gathering throughout the week to remember and to mourn. Or Ami will offer special prayers of memory at Shabbat services on Friday night(9/6) and during the Rosh Chodesh Women’s Gathering (Tuesday, 9/3).
If you are looking for something concrete to do, invite a non-Jewish friend or two, to join you at the Nova Exhibit in Culver City, so they too can be more informed and become witnesses to the horror that is October 7th.
As always, your rabbis are here to listen, commiserate, and console, as we join with good people everywhere to mourn this tragedy.
