I've written many times how every Saturday night since October 7, I have participated in the Havdalah we lead at the beginning of our weekly rallies in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv at Hostages Square, to support the hostages' families and call on the government to prioritize a ceasefire agreement to obtain their release. Almost every time I have demonstrated in Tel Aviv, Lee Siegal, a member of the Reform Congregation Birkat Shalom in Kibbutz Gezer, whose brother Keith was kidnapped from Kfar Aza on October 7, took part in the Havdalah. Keith and Lee made Aliyah from Chapel Hill, North Carolina 40 years ago, each to a different kibbutz less than an hour from one another. Every week, at Havdala in Hostage Square, Led by Rabbis Mira Regev, Chen Ben Or Tsfoni and Ofek Meir, Lee spoke about our obligation to secure the release of all the hostages and how we must not abandon them. He always talked about how these Havdalot gave him strength to make it through the whole week and continue to fight for the release of his brother and all the hostages being held in Gaza. Each time I saw him I gave him a hug and told him we are with him and will keep on fighting alongside him.

This past Shabbat, after 484 days in captivity, Lee's brother Keith finally came home. He looked weak and pale, the horrors of captivity clearly visible on his face, but alive and standing on his feet. When he disembarked from the helicopter that brought him to the hospital, he had wrapped himself in an Israeli flag as he refused a wheelchair and walked under his own power.

I spent the whole morning with tears in my eyes as I was glued to the TV, watching as Ofer Kalderon, Yarden Bibas, and Keith were reunited with their families. Seeing Ofer and his four children embrace after such a long and harrowing separation filled me with sheer joy. I was heartbroken at the sight of Yarden Bibas coming home without his wife Shiri and his little sons Ariel and Kfir, who are still in Gaza, and for whom we are extremely concerned as we fear for their lives.

When I saw Keith hug Lee, I was overwhelmed with emotions as that part of my heart, empty for so long, began to fill again. So many times, we joined Lee and prayed for his brother's release. The day had finally come, and we were like dreamers, as we describe exiles returning to Jerusalem in the psalm Shir Hama'alot. It's hard to describe in words what I felt last Saturday, during the Havdalah, when I sang the words of the Shehecheyanu, blessing God who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.

Keith's entire family waged a heroic struggle, as did all the families of the hostages. Every hostage released thus far has immediately called for the completion of the agreement to secure the release of those still held hostage, who are suffering indescribably and who are in deeper peril with every day that passes. And their families have displayed a nobility of soul, committing to continue protesting as they embrace their loved ones.

The unimaginable resilience shown by the released hostages reminds us that despite our disastrous current leadership, so many determined, impressive, and inspiring Israelis refuse to give up. We will not abdicate and abandon our people. We will continue to press the government to follow through with the deal until all the hostages are free. Every hostage is a world unto themself and we must free them all!

We ended the Havdalah singing Arik Einstein's Ani Ve'atah (You and I will change the world). Fighting such a long struggle is exhausting and at times frustrating. But I was elated to see the release of some of the hostages after so many months of protest and Havdalot.  It gave me a strong sense of hope and belief that we can indeed change the world and that we must continue to fight for a better future for all of us.

Together we will make it happen!

Sincerely,

Orly Erez-Likhovski

As we partner together in such difficult times your continued support and partnership means the world to us. You can support our work through an annual or monthly donation or by arranging an event to share our work with your community.