"Thus said G-d: A cry is heard in Ramah—Wailing, bitter weeping—Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted, for her children, who are gone.
Thus said G-d: Restrain your voice from weeping, your eyes from shedding tears; For there is a reward for your labor—declares G-d: They shall return from the enemy’s land." - Jeremiah 31:15-16
The news of an upcoming hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas brings tremendous relief and hope along with a complex mix of emotions. Rather than fumble for the rights words, I share with you a statement from the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, with the acknowledgement that I will not be able to encapsulate every possible perspective, emotion, or concern that some may have:
"We, the families of 98 hostages, welcome with overwhelming joy and relief the agreement to bring our loved ones home. We wish to express our profound gratitude to President-elect Trump, President Biden, both administrations, and the international mediators for making this possible. Since November 2023, we have been anxiously awaiting this moment, and now, after over 460 days of our family members being held in Hamas tunnels, we are closer than ever to reuniting with our loved ones.
This is a significant step forward that brings us closer to seeing all hostages return - the living to rehabilitation, and the deceased for proper burial. However, deep anxiety and concerns accompany us regarding the possibility that the agreement might not be fully implemented, leaving hostages behind. We urgently call for swift arrangements to ensure all phases of the deal are carried out.
We will not rest until we see the last hostage back home."
Other than that, all I have to say is that me continue to daven on behalf of everyone who is suffering or in danger and continue to find ways - material, emotional, spiritual - to support Israelis.
Unfortunately, we must also mourn the deaths of 10 IDF soldiers were killed in action this past week: Yair Yakov Shushan, 23; Yahav Hadar, 23; Guy Karmiel, 20; Yoav Feiffer, 19; Aviel Wiseman, 20; Yahav Maayan, 19; Alexander Fedorenko, 37; Danila Diakov, 21; and Eliav Astuker, 19. We also mourn the death of Tamar Edri, 75, who was critically injured by a Hezbollah rocket attack in November, on the day in which the ceasefire took effect, who succumbed to the wounds that she incurred. May their memories be for a blessing, may their neshamot have an aliyah.
I also ask you to keep in your prayers all of those impacted by the fires in Los Angeles, including the now 27 people believed to be dead, the 18 missing, and the tens of thousands of people who have lost their homes and who have been displaced.
This weekend we will also mark two significant national occasions for the United States: the inauguration of Donald Trump as the next president and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The inauguration is an opportunity for us to thank President Joe Biden for four years of service to this country and for us to extend our best wishes to incoming-President Donald Trump for a successful tenure that benefits all residents of the United States.
Martin Luther King Day should serve for us as a reminder of the important legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of advocacy for racial equality in the United States. We should use this day as an opportunity to remember and recommit ourselves to the values and causes that King championed.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ben Kean