They Are Home!
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים
Blessed are You, Adonoy our God, Ruler of all, Who releases the imprisoned.
A congregant posted this blessing last night at around 10pm as the first set of hostages were returned home after an ordeal of 738 days. As the Psalmist teaches, “For Your salvation we wait.” We have been reciting those words for 738 days, yearning for the release of our beloved hostages. And today, exactly two years later on the Jewish calendar, they are home.
On October 7 2023 our hearts were broken into 251 pieces. Today there are no more living hostages in Gaza. It is miraculous. Even two weeks ago I could see no way the 20 remaining hostages could ever return to their homes. And yet it has happened. Today, our broken hearts can begin to heal.
We cannot forget all the dead, the families that will never celebrate the return of loved ones, the hostages who died in captivity. 1200 people were murdered on that terrible day and over 1100 soldiers have lost their lives since the war began. (That number double counts 370 soldiers who died on Oct 7th). While Israel and the Jewish people as a whole rejoice, we stand with the families in mourning, who have lost loved ones who will never return. We will always hold their sorrow with them.
Today is the day God has made; let us rejoice in it. Joy and hope are bursting forth. I saw images of people celebrating the end of Sukkot at the Nova festival site. Thousands of religious and secular Jews together with their tallitot, their lulavim and etrogim, dancing and rejoicing with a wholeness that has been absent for 2 years. They sang Hallel, including those same words: Today is the day God has made; let us rejoice in it.
Across the Jewish world, Jews will sing and celebrate and rejoice. Our hostages are home and the war is coming to an end. Israelis begin their celebration of Simchat Torah right now; we will allow ourselves one day for Yizkor and then with joy and wholeness sing and dance.
There are signs of peace. The hostages returned home in part because Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia pressured Hamas to end the war. They are even now creating a plan for Gaza that will mean removing Hamas from power and de-radicalizing Gaza. Palestinians are returning to their homes in Gaza to mourn their own losses and to look towards peace. They have an opportunity to rebuild and create something of their own and I hope they find the courage and the fortitude to do so.
We need to rejoice, to celebrate the miracle of the hostages return and the chance for peace that is in front of us. Come to Simchat Torah at Kol Emeth or wherever you live Tuesday night and Wednesday day. We will dance, we will celebrate, we will breathe in relief!! And we will pray for a true and lasting peace.
Hag Samech!
Rabbi David Booth
