October 13, 2025

Today is a day of hope — and, we pray, the beginning of healing for the hostages, their families, and all of Israel.

For 737 days, 48 of the original 250 Israelis taken hostage by Hamas endured captivity under unimaginable conditions. Through 18 major Jewish holidays and 105 Shabbat dinners, Jewish families in Israel and around the world have carried the pain of their absence—with empty chairs at our tables, yellow ribbons on our lapels, and fractures in our hearts.

We rejoice as the 20 surviving hostages are finally welcomed home. We are profoundly relieved and deeply grateful that the first phase of the ceasefire plan has been successfully implemented, bringing home those who have been held in Gaza for far too long.

After two long years, we can finally celebrate their release and return. We know that there is a long road ahead—but we stand together in profound gratitude as we welcome them back into the arms of their loved ones. 

We mourn the 28 hostages who faced Hamas with courage and heroism but did not survive captivity. As their bodies return home in the coming hours and days, we pray that their families find comfort in being able to give them the proper burial they deserve. May their memories forever be a blessing.

We also recognize the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of Israel’s soldiers and mourn the loss of 1,152 soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in this mission to defend Israel and defeat it's enemies.

We honour the resilience of the hostages and their families, whose lives have been shattered by terror. They turned their pain into a movement that inspired people around the world, and they never gave up.

As a community, we share in this moment of relief and hope. Together, we pray for continued healing, strength, and lasting peace for all.
 

Am Israel Chai