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Next, you don’t need an invitation, but I’ll invite you anyway to come to shul so we can pray and be together. We’ll continue to pray (as we have done for the past many months) for Israel’s safety, for the hostages, for the soldiers, and for (God willing) a more peaceful future for all of God’s children.
I also want to offer the following wisdom of our tradition. Whenever you see someone who you haven’t seen in over a year, it is appropriate to say the blessing "Barukh Mehayei ha-meiteem—Blessed is the One who gives life to the dead." It may sound jarring, but the idea is (especially in an ancient context) that encountering someone you haven’t seen for an extended period of time is a mini-resurrection and an occasion to praise the source of all life. For every hostage who comes home alive, I recommend saying this blessing. When we try to consider what they’ve endured, we realize that their safe return is no less miraculous than reviving the dead. We also pray that they are able to heal from the trauma they’ve endured, so we can add "el na refa na la/lo—please God, heal their bodies and spirits." May they all come back alive and intact.
And, we also are prepared to hear the news that some of the hostages may not be coming home alive. For their return, there is also a blessing we say. It’s the same blessing we say whenever we hear bad news or learn of a death. "Barukh Dayan Emet—Blessed is the Judge of Truth."
We know the road ahead is uncertain. But if we walk it together and in the paths of our tradition, it makes all of life’s journeys a little easier.
With prayers for shalom—this Shabbat and always,
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