search
Chaim Y. Botwinick

Bright Sunlight Through Darkening Clouds: The Hostage Release “Deal”

 

Photo by: Chaim Botwinick

I write this blog in follow-up to my most recent Times of Israel post of January 17th entitled: An Island of Hope and Promise in a Sea of Daunting Uncertainty

It’s Sunday morning, January, 19th, following a very restless Shabbat and a sleepless Saturday night of nervous anticipation.

As we were fixated on the news from Israel, our thoughts were racing and our hearts pounding  – waiting anxiously to hear positive news about the long awaited release of hostages.

We were sitting on the edge of our seats in anticipation of this long awaited news that the precious hostages were finally in the safe and secure hands of the IDF and in the loving arms of their families.

The time has actually arrived for the implementation of phase-one of the newly hatched hostage release deal. But, as we know well, it ain’t over until it’s over.

As news broke that the hostages were physically safe on IDF controlled soil, everyone (at least what we viewed on cable news) in hostage square broke out in tears, song, dance and hugs. The roar of cheers increased as news reporters and commentators announced that the three hostages appeared to be in good health and were walking on their own Hasdei HaShem.

Many of my friends and colleagues informed me that during this brief period of transition and suspended animation, (from the time the hostages were physically being transferred to the hands of our IDF), they were either engaged in tefilla, introspection or reciting tehillim.

It was indeed a surrealistic scene – one which we dreamt about, yearned for and prayed for over the past 15 months.

They are Baruch HaShem finally on their way home!

As I reflect on that moment in history and on scenes of thankful jubilation and joy, I was struck by the thought about all of the anticipated conditions, potential obstacles and barriers which acheinu must still overcome, manage and navigate until all of the hostages are released and home safely – whether they be alive or God-forbid deceased. It is a daunting prospect and one which must be accepted and realized. It’s just part of the “deal” to which Israel needed to agree on behalf of hostage families.

A popular phrase which I can vividly recall my father z”l repeating quite often was “be grateful or thankful for what HaShem gives us” is one which I continuously replay in my mind, irrespective of any thoughts of future uncertainty or any recent or new potential fall-out resulting from the hostage release.

We must power- through future uncertainty with conviction, fortitude, resilience, bitachon and emunah by thinking back to when acheinu felt completely pessimistic,  helpless, hopeless and depressed about the future status of the hostages and any remote prospects for their safe release.

As we anxiously wait for the next group of hostages to be released this coming Saturday, we anticipate their release with hope, promise, anxiety and uncertainty.

The three-phased release process (“deal”) as presented, was in all probability designed and demanded by Hamas specifically in order to increase our psychological stress levels and to make each release as difficult as possible for Israel and for the families of hostages.

This harsh reality of drip-drip anguish validates Hamas’s vicious, vile and barbaric disposition and their relentless thirst to torture and torment hostage families and acheinu bnai yisrael all the way up until their safe release. True evil!

We sincerely hope and pray to HaShem that these hostage releases transpire quickly  with no diversion, delay or fanfare. The sooner and faster our brothers and sisters are physically released, the more relieved we will be.

But, as we know well, life never really goes as expected, especially when acheinu are in the cross-hairs of destiny.

It is only through the will of HaShem that all of the precious hostages will be returned home safely.

Implications for our Jewish Educational Community

It goes without saying that what we are now experiencing through the hostage release deal is a profoundly important chapter in our history.

As the three-phased hostage release deal unfolds, many of us in Jewish educational leadership positions are faced with a daunting challenge – namely, what is the leadership role and responsibility of our Jewish educational community and its schools in helping our students and teachers understand, appreciate and deal with the ebb and flow of emotions emanating from the hostage release arrangement.

We all know that many of our students, hear and talk about the new hostage releases and anticipated releases in their schools, at home, in shuls, community centers in carpools and over the Shabbat table. We also know that for many of our students, especially the older ones, they receive their news via the media, and, hopefully accurate.

The one commonality for all of us in Jewish education must be to use the hostage release chapter in history as a significant teachable moment for our students (and even for select adults). This contention is supported by the reality that we must always be mitpallel to HaShem for positive outcomes and for the hostage release deal to become nothing less than successful for the hostages and for their families.

From a Jewish school perspective, there are a wide variety of teachable and educable  moments for our students and faculty which are deeply embedded in the hostage release event.

At the top of the list is the halacha (Jewish law) that we as a Jewish community, as Acheinu Bnai Yisrael, are required to rescue and save Jewish captives at any expense. This Jewish religious duty and responsibility of pidyon shvuyim requires that we must relentlessly pursue the release of Jews who have been captured or being held captive or imprisoned.

The Talmud actually quotes the navi Yermiyahu that “the redemption of captives is a supreme commandment”. In fact, it is a core value and a true test of achdut bnai yisrael and ben adam l’chavero.

When presenting the hostage release deal to our students within the context of this commandment, we elevate the conversation to a level of deeper and more profound understanding and appreciation. Complimenting this law and commandment with the study of specific texts can only enhance and enrich our students deeper understanding of pidyan shvuyim and the profound impact of current events on our lives.

Beyond these textual teachings, it is imperative that our schools continue to address the importance of releasing our hostages and the profound implications for the manner in which we recite tefillah and tehillim on their behalf and for their safe release.

These educational activities are in addition to offering our students opportunities to reflect, hear, meet and greet released hostages as well as the offering of special programs and assemblies which promote the critical importance pidyan shavuyim and its relevance and significance to this defining moment in our history.

Endnote:

Let us all hope and pray to HaShem that the safe release of the hostages will be guarded by the watchful eye and hand of HaShem so that they are returned to the safe and welcoming and loving arms of their families and acheinu bnai yisrael. 

About the Author
Dr. Chaim Botwinick is a senior executive coach and an organizational consultant . He served as president and CEO of the central agency for Jewish education in Baltimore and in Miami; in addition to head of school and principal for several Jewish day schools and yeshivot. As an Influencer, he has published and lectured extensively on topics relating to education, resource development, strategic planning and leadership development. Dr. Botwinick is Author of “Think Excellence: Harnessing Your Power to Succeed Beyond Greatness”, Brown Books, 2011
Related Topics
Related Posts