Until the Last Hostage Comes Home
We stand united. We stand unyielding. Until every hostage comes home, we will not stop.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a deal that could lead to the release of all 98 remaining hostages—both alive and dead. This announcement comes 470 days after October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel on Simchat Torah and committed atrocities that defy humanity. On that single day, Hamas murdered 1,200 people, including 44 Americans, marking the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Their savagery wounded 3,300 others and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages during a spree of unspeakable brutality and sexual violence.
Among the 98 hostages still held are seven Americans. Keith Siegal and Sagui Dekel-Chen, both believed to be alive, are among the 33 listed for the first phase of releases. This leaves Edan Alexander as the only living American hostage not included in the initial group. Hamas also holds the bodies of Omer Neutra, Itay Chen, Judi Weinstein Haggai, and Gad Haggai.
This is not just a crisis; it is a test of humanity. Until the last hostage comes home, we will not stop fighting.
A Sacred Duty
The mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim, redeeming captives, is one of Judaism’s greatest commandments. The Rambam (Maimonides) called it a mitzvah that surpasses all others, declaring, “There is no mitzvah as great as redeeming captives” (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Matnot Aniyim 8:10). Each hostage represents a world. Each name is a life that must be restored.
פִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִים קוֹדֵם לְפַרְנָסַת עֲנִיִּים וְלִכְסוּתָן. וְאֵין לְךָ מִצְוָה גְּדוֹלָה כְּפִדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִים
Our tradition is unequivocal: we do not abandon our people. From Abraham’s bold plea for Sodom to Moses’ refusal to leave Egypt without every Israelite, Jewish history is built on the promise of collective responsibility. This obligation has never been more urgent.
Uniting to Demand Action
Today, this ancient promise guides us as Jews around the globe unite to demand the safe return of every hostage. The faces of those taken—infants, children, parents, and grandparents—are etched into our collective memory. Their freedom is our mission.
We must ensure that this mission does not lose momentum. The world must hear their names. Governments must be pressured to act. Advocacy must be relentless, and prayers unceasing. As the prophet Isaiah wrote, “For Zion’s sake, I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake, I will not be still” (Isaiah 62:1).
לְמַעַן צִיּוֹן לֹא אֶחֱשֶׁה וּלְמַעַן יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם לֹא אֶשְׁקוֹט
The Price of Silence
The October 7 massacre was not just an attack on Israel; it was an assault on humanity. Hamas sought to instill terror, to divide, to weaken the resolve of the Jewish people and their allies. But they underestimated the unbreakable bond of community.
Silence in the face of evil is complicity. As Jews, we know all too well the price of silence.
On that dark day, more Jews were murdered than on any day since the Holocaust. This is a fact that should rattle the conscience of the world. It is a reminder that silence in the face of evil is complicity. As Jews, we know all too well the price of silence.
Hope in the Face of Darkness
Even in the depths of tragedy, we hold onto hope. This potential deal between Israel and Hamas offers a glimmer of light, a chance to bring our people home. Psalm 126 reminds us: “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” The tears we shed today will strengthen the seeds of redemption.
הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ
The release of hostages is not just a political negotiation—it is a moral imperative. Each life freed reaffirms our humanity, our resilience, and our unyielding commitment to one another.
Our Promise
Until the last hostage comes home, we will not stop fighting.
This is more than a slogan; it is our sacred duty. It is the embodiment of Jewish values and the fulfillment of our shared responsibility.
We will speak their names. We will amplify their stories. We will advocate relentlessly. And we will not rest until every life—whether living or lost—returns home.
Let the world see our strength, our unity, and our unshakable resolve. For the hostages, for their families, and for the soul of humanity, we will not stop.