At last – The hostages are returning to their families
I have waited until the first group of hostages is home to express my joy in the agreement that brings about a ceasefire, the return of the hostages, and increased humanitarian aid into Gaza. At last, I’m beginning to feel a measure of relief that that the first three Israeli hostages – Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher – are home after their 471 days of captivity and that the remainder of the hostages will be home soon.
The greatest of all commandments in Jewish tradition is the “pidyon shevuyim – redemption of captives” (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Hilchot Matanot Aniyim 8:10-11). The Shulchan Aruch, the authoritative 16th century code of Jewish law, emphasizes that “every moment that one delays in freeing captives, in cases where it is possible to expedite their freedom, is considered to be tantamount to murder.” (Yoreh De’ah 252:3) Three millennia ago, the Psalmist exclaimed “B’shuv Adonai et shivat Zion hayinu k’cholmim… – When God returns the captives to Zion we will be like dreamers — our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongues with joy.” (126:1)
Hamas’ kidnapping on October 7th of 250 babies, children, young women, men, and seniors from their beds and the music festival, and viciously raped many of the young women, paraded the living and dead through the streets of Gaza like trophies as many in the crowd cheered, are unforgivable crimes against humanity. Worry about the fate and well-being of these hostages has been a constant every-day reality for Israelis and the Jewish people worldwide. The suffering too of innocent Palestinian civilians at the hands of Hamas’ criminality has been also a deep concern for compassionate human beings everywhere. Now, at last, the suffering can begin to end and Israelis and Palestinians can start to move on, to reconstruct their destroyed and damaged communities, to heal from this longest war, and consider paths towards peace with justice and security for both our peoples in our shared Homeland.
As a Jew and as an American, I’m grateful for the Biden administration’s consistent effort to find a diplomatic resolution that brings about a ceasefire and the return home of the hostages. Credit is due as well to the incoming Administration that worked with Biden to achieve this agreement.
As much as we Jews are thrilled that the first small group of hostages are home and more are scheduled to be reunited with their families in the coming weeks, there is something repulsive and morally offensive to me that these innocent and peaceful men, women, children, babies, parents, and grandparents will be returned in exchange for the release of those terrorists who committed cruel acts against our people, who have much Jewish blood on their hands, or who profess the murderous Hamas intentions towards the Jewish people and Jewish State. I comfort myself, however, in the knowledge of and respect for Jewish tradition that insists that we do everything possible to bring home innocent captives and not leave them to a certain fate of death in the tunnels of Gaza.
I’m guardedly optimistic that all the hostages will be home soon and that peace will settle in the land. Until that happens, it is upon us to remember that despair is not an option, that hopeful aspirations have historically characterized the Jewish people regardless of our circumstances, and that our dreams of the return of the captives will be fulfilled and that peace and security will eventually come.