The Everyday, Reclaimed

At this exact moment, the notification that we have been praying and begging for the past 584 days just popped up on my phone- “Hostage Golani Lone Soldier Edan Alexander, now free”. It’s Pesach Sheini, the holiday of redemption, the day of second chances. Edan is now experiencing his own geulah, his own second shot at life.

I think back to exactly a week ago- on one of my most recent work-related whirlwind trips to NY I was struck by all the signs that flooded the yards and street lamp posts in the towns of Englewood, Tenafly and Fort Lee. Pictures of Edan filled the lawns of almost every Jewish house I passed, including my own cousins and Aunt and Uncle’s home where I was staying. As many of us have learned by now, Edan was a Tenfaly, NJ native. He enlisted in the Golani Brigade, as a lone soldier post High-School. He was one of the young “soldiers” taken on that fateful day last October. Like many others whose loved ones were kidnapped, Edan’s family has been in the public eye advocating and begging for his immediate release. His family made frequent visits to the White House, with President Trump also making sure Edan’s name remained in the spotlight, as he was the last living American citizen to remain in Hamas captivity.

I think about Edan, a NJ boy, who was a friend to many in his community. I can’t imagine all the celebrations that await him, both in Israel and his hometown. And I remember Omer Netura, a Long Island boy who attended High School with another cousin of mine. Omer was also taken hostage on Oct. 7 and his family held out hope for 14 long months that he was alive, only to find out he was killed upon being taken. His remains are being held in Gaza and are yet to be returned.

Why has Eden been freed and not the others? Direct talks between Hamas and US representatives in Doha led to an agreement to release Edan, in what was noted as a “gesture to Trump and the Americans, without any conditions.” It was made clear this was out of good-will as an ode to the Americans, unrrelated to Israel. This symbolic move appears aimed at reopening diplomatic channels with the US. Many also claim that by releasing a high-profile hostage outside of negotiations with Israel, Hamas signals that it can selectively engage with global powers, underscoring Israeli mediation. They have done this to weaken Israel’s position in negotiations and attempt to complicate efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives.

My heart aches for our remaining boys, some of whose families we have come to know personally: Bar Kupershtein, brother of Or who has now been to LA numerous times, telling the world about the dire need to release his brother, Elkana Bohout, who has a wife and young son waiting for him at home. Elkana’s best friend, Roy Levi, successfully escaped from the Nova festival with his wife. Roy describes how in the weeks following Oct. 7, at first glance, Elkana’s son kept thinking Roy was his father, returning from the festival. Roy continues to reassure him that his father will return home soon. These are just two. And the list goes on… And we can not forget our holy Chayalim who risk their lives out of pure Ahavat Yisroel, in efforts to allow us all to live free from terror. 

Because of this recent trip to NY with my students for Chidon Hatanach, I was unable to attend the annual OC marathon with my running group. As done on all our runs, my friends wore the picture of the 24 faces that remain in captivity on the back of their shirts, while proudly waving Israeli flags as they were running. Each time we do this, I pray it will be the last time we will need to represent this cause. And once again, next week, I will be taking another whirl-wind 12 hour trip to NJ. This time, rather than seeing “Free our Hostages” signs posted all throughout the Jewish communities of NY/NJ I travel through, I pray to be met with “welcome home” posters for them all. 

Today is Pesach Sheini. While preparing matzah pizza for the kids this morning, I thought of the events that will transpire today- Edan is set to be freed. And my davening will be even stronger hoping that this neis of pidyon shvuim will extend for the ones who remain. How fitting that this is the exact day that 3300 years ago, Bnei Yisroel asked “lama nigara?”- “Why should we miss out in the mitzvah of giving the Korban Pesach while we were busy fulfilling another mitzvah, carrying Yosef’s bones to be brought and buried in Eretz Yisroel?” Not only did Hashem listen to their request, but a day was established as a second opportunity to fulfill a mitzvah previously unable to be kept. At the core of this holiday lies something deep- we have a constant yearning to partake in the mitzvot we were given, even when being turned away the first time around. Additionally, we are being shown that the gates of heaven are always open, Hashem is always listening, allowing room for Teshuvah, renewal and new opportunities we may have missed in the past. 

Edan now has a new shot at life- he can engage in the most mundane, basic acts that we never think twice about, ones that he must have been yearning to do for those 584 days in captivity. In reclaiming the everyday- his mother’s embrace, the comfort of home- he reminds us how fortunate we are to live in freedom, and of the timeless journey our people have taken from sheibud l’geulah—from exile to redemption. That resilient spirit lives on in us. And even through the hardest moments, we must hold on to it, cherish it, and never take it for granted- not only on Pesach Sheini, but every single day.