Miracles Beyond the Flames: Carrying Hanukkah’s Glow Forward

As Hanukkah comes to an end and the last of our candles burn down, a little light remains, one that refuses to be extinguished. It is the light of our Jewish nation, of Am Yisrael. But for the hostage families whose loved ones have endured more than 450 days of unimaginable suffering, a veil of darkness remains.  

Yet amid the darkness, a flicker of light exists. It is the light of unshakable faith, of emunah, expressed by so many hostage families which has deepened in the face of overwhelming tragedy. Despite the agony of endless waiting, they have shown that miracles can flow from their emunah.

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of building relationships with many hostage families. What has become clear is that while a terrible darkness engulfs them, something extraordinary was forged: a special community united by Jewish identity and a deep connection to Hashem. Despite all they continue to endure, their faith shines as a beacon for the Jewish people, for Klal Yisrael. 

Last weekend, Kesher Yehudi organized a Shabbat away at the request of the families, similar to those we have been hosting these past 14 months. The vacillating news of a potential hostage deal, while hard for the rest of us to withstand, is incomprehensibly stressful for them. We responded with a Shabbat filled with love, togetherness, singing, and learning. 

Over the course of Shabbat, Rabbi Ben Menat, invited as a guest, reminded the parents and siblings that, G-d willing, when their loved ones return home, free, and healthy, they will return changed people. He quoted Victor Frankel’s Man Search for Meaning, who explained that when everything is taken away from a person, a survivor of such barbarity comes to understand something on the deepest level: that one cannot rely on any human being, group, army, or country. That there is only Ein Od Milvado, and that everything is in the hands of our Creator. 

One of our Shabbat participants, Yelena Trupanov, confirmed the Rabbi’s every word. A self-described left-wing peace activist before October 7th, Yelena, her 71-year-old mother, and her son were taken hostage on October 7th. Her husband was murdered. Yelena and her mother were released, but her son Sasha remains in captivity. At the Shabbaton, she told us all that just as Rabbi Menat described; captivity taught her first and foremost that there is no one to rely on but God Above. Period. 

The families don’t really need this reminder. As long as their loved ones are living through hell, they are, too. And it has changed them. Their recognition of Hashem’s presence and their yearning to connect with Him in order to shake the Heavens on behalf of their loved ones has sparked the most heroic resilience that leaves those of us around them in awe. 

Itay Regev, a released hostage, shared with Shelly Shem Tov that her son Omer, who is still being held, was observing Shabbat in captivity. “I am so proud of my child,” she said at the Shabbaton. “They took away his freedom, but they can’t take away his faith. I know it’s his faith that will strengthen him and protect him there.”

So what about the rest of us? How can we be reminded of this lesson short of going through such horrific trials in order to experience this level of emunah?

In these historic times of war and rising antisemitism, we have all witnessed countless miracles. Whether in Israel, where we are physically close to the Shechinah’s dwelling place, or abroad, where the Jewish people continue to endure despite overwhelming odds, there is no logical explanation for our survival. The rational mind cannot comprehend the results of the last 14 months. Only Hashem’s hand can account for the impossible victories we’ve witnessed.

We need not be held in captivity to recognize G-d’s presence. Divine intervention occurs every day, from the smallest personal miracles to the largest national events. Our challenge is to open our eyes, recognize the signs, and strengthen our own faith.

As we move forward from Hanukkah, let the light of emunah and Jewish unity ignite in us the same courage and faith these families have come to rely upon.  As their light burns even in the darkest times, let us kindle and protect that light as we face any remaining trials for Am Yisrael.