Celebrating a hometown hero’s return — and waiting for the 58 left behind

Along with hundreds of people from all segments of the Bergen County, New Jersey, Jewish community, I was privileged to to take part in the watch party yesterday for newly freed Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in his hometown of Tenafly.

Photos by Lori Silberman Brauner

It was exhilarating to see the event unfold on a live screen broadcasting directly from Israel’s Channel 12, and to take part in the cheering when the announcer stated: “Hu b’yadeinu. Edan b’seder.” We sang along to three Israeli hits that have become theme songs of the war — Eyal Golan’s “Am Yisrael Chai,” Yigal Oshri’s “La’tzeit Midichon” and “Tamid Ohev Oti,” originally released by Breslov Hasidic musician Yair Elitzur before being rereleased last year by Mizrachi singer Sasson Ifram Shaulov. The crowd was very respectful, leaving little garbage behind in Tenafly’s Huyler Park despite spending many hours there, and diverse in both age and Jewish affiliation — I saw people ranging from Chabad and modern Orthodox Jews to secular and traditional Israelis (Tenafly has a large expat population). They were all united by their love and concern for a fellow Jew and Israel.

While some of the crowd had been at the park since 5 a.m. — Hamas’ originally scheduled time for Edan’s release (as if they would honor that!) — many of us were reluctant to leave before having the chance to witness the 21-year-old lone soldier being reunited with his mother Yael in Israel. The closest we got was seeing her shout into the phone of U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, “Ata ba’chutz, neshama sheli… ohev otcha.” An undoubtedly strong and reassuring mother, she stressed that he was out of danger, and everything was going to be OK. It was also inspiring to see his savta (grandmother) Varda Ben Baruch announce that Edan was celebrating his personal Pesach Sheini — the Jewish holiday traditionally marking the day when someone unable to participate in the Passover offering would be able to do so exactly one month later. Edan had his second chance, and for that we are all grateful.

A local Chabad rabbi recites the Shecheheyanu prayer following Edan Alexander’s release from captivity.

Yet, it was clear from watching the Channel 12 live feed that much more work needs to be done, and that many hostage families have legitimate fears for their loved ones left behind. I watched as Vicky Cohen, mother of kidnapped Israeli soldier Nimrod Cohen, held up her son’s Israeli passport and lamented that it — unlike the coveted U.S. one — won’t help him get released. “Is Nimrod worth less?” she asked. Then there was Lishay Miran-Lavi, wife of hostage Omri Miran, testifying in the Knesset that she would have no answer when her two young daughters ask, “Why is aba still in Gaza?” Equally heartbreaking was watching Einav Zangauker voice her fears at a hostage rally yesterday that her son Matan, who had been held in Gaza with Edan, was all alone with his captors.

The answer, obviously, is that we cannot stop until all the hostages are home — regardless of their nationality or circumstances — for reunification with their families or, in the case of the deceased, for a fitting burial in Israel. All of the mothers, fathers, children, spouses, siblings and, of course, the beloved savtot, deserve the chance to hug their family members and become whole again. Anything less would be a betrayal of who we are as Jews and human beings.

After 584 days, Yael Alexander finally speaks to her son Edan.