“BRING THEM HOME!” IS NOT QUITE RIGHT.

Most people that I know are reluctantly planning to attend an October 7 memorial program of some type. This is for the people who are planning them here in the States.  I am so grateful for your leadership.  Unfortunately, we need this for so many reasons.  I hope you don’t mind if I share a thought with you for consideration.

Like pretty much everyone else in the civilized world, I am hoping and praying that the hostages will be home well before then. But if they are not, I suggest that any chants of “Bring Them Home,” or signs with that slogan not be used from here on out.

It’s bothered me from the very outset of this tragedy that that slogan has taken hold. It is just plain wrong.  It deflects 100% of the blame from Hamas and puts 100% of the onus on the Israeli government.  They have the power to bring them home … Oh, and by the way, barring a miraculous military rescue, that is only if Hamas agrees to it. “Bring Them Home” is a legitimate political stance for people in Israel to take. It is a terrible stance for international Jewry and our allies to take because it pivots the whole world against the Israeli government – love ‘em or hate ‘em – rather than focusing on and pointing the blame on Hamas.

I kept quiet about this because, first of all, with all the people who really know stuff, who is listening to me about this?  And it sounded kind of pedantic considering the broader issues and emotions wrapped up in this.  But after 11 months of chanting, this whole misguided notion that somehow we have the power to “bring them home” has become so ubiquitous and internalized in our community that after Hamas executed our loved ones in cold blood, we have entered a macabre period of self-flagellation; Jews here in America publicly blaming themselves, and devoting poetry, prose, and prayer to beg forgiveness from the murdered hostages for not being able to “bring them home.”  As if it was in our power. As if this is somehow, bizarrely, our fault.  The self-recrimination and wailing for forgiveness should be re-channeled into exponentially increased rage against Hamas.  They win again.

The chant should have been and should always be along the lines of “Set Them Free!”  Or we may try “Let My People Go!”  That worked once before.

While we do not want to be in the position of censoring what people say, in this vein, I suggest that anyone who’s invited to speak at your program should be discouraged from falling into “Bring Them Home” mode or starting that chant. I’m sure if it is explained to them in this fashion, they will get it right away.

I will say this, though. I bet you are trying, and if you succeed in securing a hostage family for speaking, they should be encouraged to say whatever the hell they want.

“Bring Them Home” is a demand for internal Israeli consumption and part of a larger debate for that society to wrestle with. If it is clear that this is the public position you are taking at your event, then, sure.  But if it’s not your position, “Bring Them Home” is a counterproductive pronouncement at memorials or future events, and we hope to God they will be unnecessary.  For us, the focus should remain on keeping the collective international finger pointed at Hamas who are the only ones with the unchecked, unilateral power to send the hostages home, all of them, whenever they choose.