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
It has been another difficult week for the Jewish people, particularly with the news from Israel.
We are extremely grateful for the release of six Israelis last Shabbat: 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.
However, it is with a mixture of overwhelming sadness and slight relief that the ordeal is over that greet the news of the return of the bodies of hostages Itzik Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, Shlomo Mantzur, and Tsahi Idan. These were incredible men, with incredible stories.I encourage you to read about them and learn about these great people we lost.
This week also saw the funerals of Oded Lifshchitz, Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, and Shiri Bibas. If you have not yet already, you can watch a recording of Oded's funeral or read about the coverage of it, or especially the eulogy of Oded's wife, Yocheved Lifshitz, who was also taken hostage on October 7 but released shortly after. Similarly, I'd encourage to watch the funeral, read some of the eulogies (Yarden's eulogy), or view the news coverage, of the funeral of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir.
Yehi Zichram B'ruchim, Hashem Yikom D'meihem, may their memories and legacies continue to inspire and empower us forever.
This year, there's a strange feature about the Haftarah. We recite the Haftarah for Parshat Shekalim, a section of II Kings that focuses on the efforts of King Yehoash to reform the collection of funds for the Beit HaMikdash, and then immediately after, we read the first line and the last line of the Haftarah for Rosh Chodesh. What this means is that immediately after reading about the human efforts to repair a house for G-d, we read the words of Yeshayahu, "Thus says the Lord, The heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool, what house could you build for Me?" This is a jarring comparison that forces us to recall that whatever our obligations and efforts are for creating a more perfect world centered around a House of G-d, we must recognize with humility our own frailty and smallness in the face of the Almighty.
Am Yisrael Chai.
With tears and resolute hope, Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ben Kean
