Day 4 and Concluding reflections

The remainder of our last day in Israel focuses on the hostages and their families. First, we visit the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, known through the hashtag #BringThemHomeNow. According to their website, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum was formed by the families of the abductees less than 24 hours after the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th, in which more than 1300 innocent civilians were murdered and hundreds were taken hostage. The Forum is volunteer-based and laser-focused on bringing the hostages back home to their families, to us.

Our guide Meirav reiterates the volunteer nature of this NGO as people work around the clock in addition to, in many cases, full time jobs. The two goals are to keep the return of the hostages in the forefront of the political agenda as well as supporting the families of the hostages. We meet members of a number of the teams- the diplomatic team mobilizes awareness in their own governments, the medical team provides mental health resources for families and supplies medical info of the hostages to the Red Cross, whom Meirav describes as acting like a GETT taxi driver, refusing to offer medical attention when needed; the legal department, communication department (think of all the billboards in 90 locations around the world); the social media team who write everything in Hebrew AND in English; and the influencer department, where we learn from Brian Spivak (originally from Englewood, NJ) who works with creators and influencers to share stories about the hostages- one such example is the “recipes4return” campaign on Instagram where food bloggers make recipes while sharing stories of the hostages. We learn that the color scheme of the posters, often in the jarring black, white and red colors, now includes a yellow ribbon inspired by the yellow ribbon campaign for veterans, here in the US. 

After the terrors of October 7, Dudi Zalmanovich, a prominent Israeli businessman whose daughter survived the massacre at the Nova festival and whose nephew was taken captive by Hamas, emptied two floors of his office and gave birth to the forum. We hear Dudi speak about the days immediately after and how the forum is adapting to the reality of some hostages being released. A number of times, he says that doesn’t matter Israeli or non-Israeli, Jewish or not Jewish, they want all of the hostages home safely and home speedily. After we sing a very emotional Acheinu (a literal prayer for hostages) in our little hallway, Dudi’s statements come into play in real time, as a family member receives a phone call right next to us that Aisha Ziyadne, from the Bedouin community of Ziyadne, is one of the captives being released (if you’re thinking Bedouin – a reminder that Hamas doesn’t want people of all religions living on this land). Later that night, we learn that her brother Bilal is also released. After an embrace, As Dudi puts it, “to see this person so drained yesterday and now today…” Even in the joy of the moment, the shirt he wears reminds us that there are still other family members in captivity. 

After picking up posters and t shirts to bring back to the states, we make our way to what has been renamed Hostage Square. I’ll let the images speak for themselves, as artists and family members find a way to express their sorrow, their pain, and their hope, all in one instant. I think of the end stages of life: this is a hospital visit, shiva home, and living monument all wrapped into one. Just as in a shiva home, we are told not to start asking questions or talking too much when we interact with families of the hostages gathered in the tents. If they want to talk, they will initiate. I listen in on a conversation with the aunt and uncle of hostage, Elkana Bohbot. With everything going on, life being a blur and in many ways halting on October 7, it was comforting for me to hear the two of them laugh with friends, even for a short moment. Normalcy is something we all crave. 

Everyday at 5pm, community members gather in the square for prayers and shira b’tzibbur, communal singing. We were privileged to help lead this ceremony, with our instruments, our voices, and our fullest kavanah. More than singing at the hospitals (often singing “to” the families), this was a spiritual communal moment when everyone was singing. It was nice to see our Masorti counterparts and other friends visiting from North America.

Our final dinner at an amazing restaurant, Goshen (photos included), was a way to express gratitude to our guide Kari, our producer Ben, videographer Or and all of our colleagues for experiencing the power and difficulty of this mission, together. As we shared words around our table, it also helped me to begin to formulate the narrative that I hope to share with all who read.

As I write this last post, the mood is changing in Israel. Hamas breaks the ceasefire by firing into Israel, by not sending a new list of hostages to be released. Yes, the 7 day ceasefire that saw over 100 hostages released, that had enveloped our entire 5 day journey, is over. It makes this experience unique, an ענין של זמן , a moment in time. 

As the psalmist writes in psalm 121,” the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” Israelis, the literal guardians of Israel, neither slumber or sleep. The resilience of this country is unbelievable- believe the unbelievable, as I mentioned early, can be a positive too. I pray that there are pockets of relief, followed by blankets of joy in the days ahead. While this is an indictment of Israel’s government, the intestinal fortitude of each Israeli to push on, to have open hands and hearts to family and strangers, is something we on this side of the Atlantic can learn a lot from. Israel mobilized, and we CAN do the same- for our own communities and for the state of Israel.

In the complexity of sadness & joy in every moment, an image is engrained in my mind- that of the tall Cedar trees that we found in Tel Aviv, in Kfar Aza, in Ashkelon, in Alumim, in Jerusalem. Cedars that stand tall even in the midst of chaos. Just as we speak of the inhumanity of Hamas, we MUST speak of Israeli expressions of humanity. Facts and figures are important, but human touch points will be what is needed to change the narrative.

When our group shared those last moments of gratitude, our videographer Or (you’ll see his work soon thanks to funds we raised at the JJC), said that WE are the hope. WE, the cantors on this mission, and WE Israel’s family and friends in the diaspora. This isn’t something Israelis would’ve said two months ago…

As we often have had a shaliach (emissary) with us in Jacksonville, I’ve never felt more of a shaliach representing and strengthened by you. The messages on Facebook, and in particular a video my daughters made with their cast of Newsies (shared later), have brought me to tears when I’ve felt overwhelmed. Being in Israel, sharing music, stories and lots of hugs, has been the language that pierces the heart and soul. Together, Israel and diaspora, are the hope. Just as we can have boundless love, we can always have boundless hope- hope for the return of hostages, for peace, for a people of Israel that thrives for generations to come. Am Yisrael Chai