The Blogs: A Chanukah Wish: Bringing Our Hostages Home

As we hope for a Chanukah miracle, I look down at the flickering candles—each small flame symbolizing our hopes for the freedom of the 100 hostages, including seven Americans.

Last week, on a snowy Sunday morning in Central Park—the coldest day of this winter—New Yorkers and Jews braved the biting 18°F temperatures to march in solidarity.

As an Israeli who marches on the warmest days of the year with the families of hostages in NYC, temperatures in the -7 degrees Celsius range are “unknown” to me. Yet, I knew that this was no reason to stay home. It is our commitment to amplify the voices of the hostages and urgently call for their freedom and immediate release.

We honor three hostages who were kidnapped on October 7 and are marking their second birthdays in captivity: Matan Zangauker (25), who was abducted from his Kibbutz Nir Oz home; Ohad Ben Ami (56), who was taken captive by Hamas from Kibbutz Be’eri; and Evyatar David (24), who was taken captive while enjoying the Nova Music Festival.

Dana Cwaigrach, the head of the Hostages Forum branch in New York, read a heartfelt letter from Matan’s sister reflecting on his 25th birthday: “Matan, my older brother who always bullied me when we were children but, at the same time, protected me, is now a hostage in Gaza. Now it’s my turn to do everything to keep him safe and bring him back to us. A little sister should not have to fight for her brother’s life. Matan, you don’t deserve to rot there for so long. I love you, and I will continue to fight for you every day. I miss coming to visit you in Nir Oz and spending weekends with you; I miss cooking for you and the fact that you always ask how I am and where I’m going. I miss your music and your unwillingness to take pictures with me. I want everything back. I want you back. I miss you so much.”

As we pray for Chanukah miracles, we are inspired by Matan’s sister’s words: “Let’s make one wish from north to south—that Matan will be the last hostage to celebrate his birthday in captivity. We are an amazing nation; you give us, the families, hope and strength.”

It’s our commitment to raise our voices until every hostage is home. Let them go—Bring Them Home.