Dear T’ruah community,
I am devastated and furious at the news of the murders of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Almog Sarusi, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, and Ori Danino.
For nearly a year, we have prayed for the safety and swift return of these six beautiful people, and of all of the hostages. Many of us in the American Jewish community are directly connected to Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and millions of Americans have witnessed the grace and courage of his parents, Rachel and Jon, including when they spoke at the DNC last month. T’ruah rabbis got to know Carmel Gat’s family as well, as they graciously met with the groups of American Jewish clergy who visited Israel this summer with T’ruah. We share in their grief.
Hamas bears responsibility for the murder of these six people, apparently shot by their captors as the IDF approached. But Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government are responsible for abandoning the hostages and prioritizing their political and territorial ambitions over pidyon shevuyim, the redemption of captives — one of the most important mitzvot.
This week’s parashah, Shoftim, includes the directive that a king must not amass wealth or wives, which might lead him to become selfish and haughty. Rather, a king should have a copy of the Torah scroll beside him and study it regularly so that he might “revere his God” and “observe faithfully every word.” (Deuteronomy 17:16-20)
Humility and a commitment to justice — that is the leadership we so desperately need. Instead, Netanyahu and his government again and again choose their own power and dangerous messianic visions over the very lives of their people.
Netanyahu’s own security experts warned him that this is exactly what would happen without a hostage deal. It is more clear than ever that military action will not free the hostages. Hersh, Eden, and Carmel were apparently on the list for the first exchange in the hostage deal that Netanyahu has repeatedly torpedoed.
This war has no winners. As it drags on, it only brings more death and destruction for both Israelis and Palestinians. Last week, Gaza reported its first case of polio, yet one more public health threat emerging from the war.
Meanwhile, the West Bank is exploding in a series of terror attacks, by both Palestinian militants and Israeli settlers, that have already claimed multiple lives. Israeli incursions into Jenin and other areas have led to deadly clashes between the IDF and Palestinian gunmen, and have also endangered Palestinian civilians. A regional war still threatens to erupt as Israel and Hezbollah trade attacks in the north.
This war needs to end now — before the remaining living hostages are killed and the hopes of their families crushed. Before more innocent Palestinians die in Israeli airstrikes or from malnutrition and disease. And before more young Israeli soldiers — more than 700 of whom have already been killed — are sent to their deaths.
We stand with the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who are shutting down the country this week to demand a hostage deal and an end to the war, and we applaud the Histadrut, the national labor union, for calling a general strike. We pray for their safety, too, in the face of increased police brutality that, among other incidents, sent one hostage’s sister to the hospital last night after a police horse trampled her. Finally, we call on the Biden administration to do everything in its power to pressure Netanyahu to make a ceasefire deal, which is the only way to bring home the remaining hostages and to end the suffering for everyone.
May the memories of Carmel, Hersh, Almog, Alex, Eden, and Ori be a blessing, and may this tragedy be the catalyst for bringing about a deal, an end to the war, and new leadership in Israel.
In solidarity,
Rabbi Jill Jacobs (she/her)
CEO, T’ruah