Ha Baita.
Ha Baita.
Coming Back home.
Mixed emotions….
Two years of anguish, sadness, fear, fury, hope.
Two years far away and very close at the same time.
It’s the middle of the night in Buenos Aires. I’m glued to the computer waiting for the return of the hostages. Connected to each of them, although I don’t know them.
With my bouquet of yellow flowers.
Eagerly waiting for the moment to be able to cut and take off the yellow bracelet that I have been carrying in my wrist for two years now that says “Bring them home”.
Mixed and simultaneous emotions, as Rachel Goldberg Polin said on Saturday in the Square of the Hostages, that hopefully by the end of this article it will be the Square of the Free.
Joy for those who return alive. Compassion and empathy too while imagining the state in which they return, wishing them refuah shlema, a prompt and complete healing of the body and especially of the soul.
Desolation for those who return lifeless, brutally murdered in an inexplicable and unforgivable war.
Fear of what this exchange may bring. The price Israel pays is very high. Once again, terrorists are released, while vowing will all their strength the desire and intention to repeat the terror round. Why wouldn’t they, if in this round they were rewarded with time and worldwide recognition?
A few days ago, we have witnessed the publication of the sinister, cruel instructions of the architect of the massacre of October 7, Yahya Sinwar (who was released in a prior exchange) leaving no doubt as to what the objective was. The order was to destroy, torture and murder as many as possible and broadcast it live.
The Western world and self-denominated pro-Palestine groups chose to keep their own narrative and preferred not to believe what the Hamas leader wanted to show them.
I want to clarify, as it seems necessary to do nowadays, that the identification of pro-Palestine groups with Hamas arises from their own words and actions. It is not I who defined them in this way, but they themselves, who on the one hand pretend to make a difference between the Palestinians and Hamas, but on the other for two years have been raising the flag of Palestine defending the ideas of Hamas. They also tried to make us believe that Anti-Zionism is not Anti-Semitism. Poor people, what a confusion they have!!
Anger and frustration at the diplomatic summit of “Lords” who are deciding how peace and security should go forward for the only Lady of the Middle East, without Her participation of course. Silly of me, how could I think that Israel should be part of the talks about the new political fabric in the area that is specifically related to her safety?
The injustice and hypocrisy keeps on going at a huge level.
Let’s not fool ourselves.
Ending war is not the same as obtaining peace. And as long as Israel is not at the table that intends to resolve the dynamics of relations in the area, but the representatives of the terrorist group that opened the door to this hell or its partners are, there does not seem to be such an honest path to achieve the long-awaited peace.
Heavy and painful emotions for everything that has happened in these two years.
And at the end of the day… or at the beginning of it, the light of hope and our eternal resilience.
Two years ago, when we were supposed to be closing the holiday of Sukkot, the Season of Our Rejoicing Z’man Simchateinu, the worst massacre suffered by the Jewish People since the Holocaust occurred and the gate of hell was opened.
Today, entering again the last days of Sukkot we hope to close that door forever.
Going back to our ancient and wise texts always reminds me of the privilege, responsibility and blessing that is being part of this millennial people. The prophet Nehemiah announced that “All the congregation of those who had returned from captivity made Succoth and dwelt in them.”
The dawn advances and becomes morning, while I simultaneously watch several live screens from Israel, as well as the posts of Jews around the world, each one in their time zones, all being one.
And I keep thinking that this Season of Our Rejocing teaches us through its symbology that we are ALL an indispensable part of this tapestry.
From the most orthodox to the most secular, we are ALL one People.
We should ALL celebrate the return of our brothers.
And we are ALL necessary to heal the pains, rebuild ourselves and continue to be light.
Today more than ever AM ISRAEL CHAI.
Vicky Ludmer
October 13, 2025