Thoughts on the Return of the Live Hostages

Posted originally on September 28, 2025

On the Jewish calendar, almost exactly two years have passed since the horrific

attack on Israel on Simchat Torah, by Hamas, the taking of some 250 hostages, and the ongoing response of Israel to obtain their release and to eliminate the threat posed for so many years by Hamas. Many of the hostages had been released in previous ceasefire arrangements and now on Monday, the twenty remaining living hostages were released and returned to Israel. Only nine of the bodies of the other hostages who died in captivity have been returned so far. We rejoice in the return of those who have suffered these past two years and pray for comfort and consolation for the bereaved families still awaiting the return of the remains of their loved ones.

We have to recognize the efforts of the president and his team in accomplishing

the agreement that led so far to the first stage toward the ending of this war, the

reconstruction of Gaza, and the establishment of lasting peace in the area. It is

obviously too soon to celebrate the completion of all these efforts; the war has not

ended yet. But, we continue to hope (as we have since 1948 and before) for a peaceful resolution that will benefit all parties in the area, true peace and mutual cooperation for the betterment of all.

After the events of October 7, 2023, we set two chairs on our bimah to

symbolically represent all of those held hostage by Hamas and its allies. At first, we

chose at random two individuals, one an older woman, Ditza, and the other a young

child, Avigayil. Fortunately, both were safely returned to their families in the first

hostage exchange. However, since many individuals remained in captivity, we decided to choose two other people to represent the remaining group.

The idea of empty chairs on the bimah came from some of the national Jewish

groups who recalled a similar practice in the days when we were working to bring

refuseniks out of the Soviet Union. We would twin our bar and bat mitzvah students

with Jewish children who were not allowed to celebrate their b’nai mitzvah there. Our children would write to them, send them an invitation to their simchas, and a chair would be reserved on the bimah for them.

Now, the chairs we set out recognized not only the plight of the captives, but the

anguish and uncertainty of their families and friends regarding their fate. The two people we chose, Ziv and Gali Berman, not only represented the entire group of hostages for us, but had a special connection to our congregation as they are related to cousins of the Margulies family in our congregation. They reminded us of the impact these kidnappings had on their families not as abstract numbers but as real people. So we were especially happy to see the twin brothers, Ziv and Gali Berman, who had been held separately from each other these two years, return to their families in this final exchange, in what appeared to be relatively good condition as we see in the picture below.

We realize that they and the other hostages just released will have a long period

of adjustment ahead and will need the support and care of their loved ones and of all of us who have prayed for their safe return. We offer thanks to the Almighty who has brought us to this day as we pray for the implementation of the next stages of the

ceasefire agreement and ultimately for the promise of peace at last in the Middle East.

The link below is to an article from the Jerusalem Post written about the twin

brothers on their return to Israel. We wish them well as we do to all of those who have returned this week. May God grant them healing and blessing in the years ahead.

 https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-

870435?utm_source=jpost.app.apple&utm_medium=share