For these things do I weep, my eyes flow with tears: Far from me is any comforter
who might revive my spirit; My children are desolate, for the foe has prevailed.
- Eikhah 1:16
Following the news from Israel this past week has been truly heart-wrenching and awful.
On the one hand, it is with great gratitude to Hashem that we welcome back to Israel hostages released last Shabbat, Sagui Dekel-Chen, who will meet his daughter born one month after he was taken hostage for the first time; Sasha Troufanov, who father was killed on October 7 and whose mother, grandmother, and girlfriend were all taken hostage before being released in November 2023; and Iair Horn, whose younger brother Eitan Horn tragically remains in captivity.
Likewise, we wait with baited breath for news of the six hostages due to be released over Shabbat this week, Avera Mengistu, 37, Hisham al-Sayed, 37, Tal Shoham, 39, Eliyah Cohen, 27, Omer Wenkert, 23 Omer Shem Tov, 22.
Avera and Hisham both suffer from mental illnesses and had been held hostage by Hamas since September 2014 and April 2015, respectively. Tal was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7, along with his wife, Adi Shoham, his daughter, Yahel, 3, and son, Naveh, 8, his mother-in-law Shoshan Haran, his wife’s aunt Sharon Avigdori and her daughter Noam, 12, all of whom were released in November 2023. Tal also lost three members of his wife's family: his father-in-law Avshalom Haran and his wife’s aunt and uncle Eviatar and Lilach Kipnis. Eliyah, Omer Wenkert and Omer Shem Tov were all taken from Nova music festival. Eliyah suffered a bullet wound, which reportedly has not been treated. Omer Wenkert suffers from chronic conditions, which, according to released hostages, were not treated. We continue to pray and anxiously await the return of all the hostages cruelly being held by Hamas terrorists, especially in light of the shocking condition that Eli, Ohad, and Or were in when they were returned to Israel.
This week has been overshadowed by the tragic news of the return of the bodies of Oded Lifshchitz, 83 Ariel Bibas, 4, and Kfir Bibas 10 months, confirming the horrifying and tragic suspicion that the three had been killed in captivity, and by the shocking and outrageous action by Hamas in sending the body anonymous deceased woman falsely claiming that they were the remains of Shiri Bibas. Every aspect of the story of the four of them is tragic and heartbreaking, and Hamas took every opportunity to desecrate their memory as their bodies were released. Oded's wife, Yocheved, was also taken hostage, but released two weeks afterward. Yarden Bibas, Shiri's husband, Ariel and Kfir's father, was released two weeks ago, and Shiri's parents were murdered on October 7.
In spite of the pain, we must carry on, continuing to honor those we have lost, fight for those who we are missing, and supporting each other through it all.
Our tradition places a primacy on the Rambam's Thirteen Principles of Faith. I will remind you of the last three of them, which give me a sense of hope and resolve in spite of the pain, the heartbreak, and the nagging feeling of G-d being hidden through this tragedy:
11. G-d rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked.
12. The Mashiach will come.
13. G-d will resurrect the dead.
In the words of Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah), in the conclusion of the Haftarah: "Thus said GOD: As surely as I have established My covenant with day and night—the laws of heaven and earth—so I will never reject the offspring of Jacob and My servant David; I will never fail to take from his offspring rulers for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, I will return their captivity and show them mercy."
Am Yisrael Chai.
With tears and resolute hope, Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ben Kean
