Relief and Gratitude

Friends,

It is with a heart overflowing with relief and gratitude that I write to celebrate with you all at last after 738 days in captivity, the return of the 20 remaining living hostages from Gaza. 

We offer the following prayers as we watch with a mix of excitement for what has happened, trepidation for what the future holds, and disbelief that after 2 years almost to the day, our captives are finally home.

בָּּרוּךְ אַתָּּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מלֽךְ הָּעוֹלָּם מַתִּּיר אֲסוּרים.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who frees the captive.

May It Be Your Will - Rabbi Tamar Elad Applebaum 

May it be Your will, our brothers and sisters, that just as you found strength and courage in that terrible hell, so too you will find strength as you return and walk the path of healing. May you be surrounded by the thousands of loving people who never stopped caring, hoping, acting, and striving. May it be Your will that we can provide you and your families with material, emotional, and spiritual support and comfort. May we together weave the thread of hope and rescue, and may this return bring forth peace and good messages. May it be Your will that together we safeguard our home. That we cherish the light revealed through the deeds of all those who never ceased to act and cry out for your return. May it be Your will that the memory of those we could not bring back in peace, and of those who fell in battle, never depart from us. May their memory be an eternal flame — of pain and hope, sorrow and consolation. God Who makes peace in His heavens, may You make peace for us, and for all Israel, and for all who dwell on earth — and let us say, Amen.

Please join us on Wednesday evening as we celebrate Simchat Torah two years after unimaginable tragedy marked that holiday. We will sing and dance with the Torah and also reclaim the joy of this day as we honor our survivors.