Dear Friends,
After so many months of holding our breath, the news of an agreement to bring our hostages home allows for a collective, cautious sigh of relief. A fragile sense of hope pierces through the long period of darkness, and for that, we are deeply thankful.
In our tradition, there is no greater mitzvah than pidyon sh’vuyim – the redemption of captives. It is the embodiment of pikuach nefesh (the preservation of life) and a principle that sits at the very core of our people’s values. We recognize the profound weight of the decisions made by Israel’s leaders to uphold this sacred obligation.
Our joy, however, is not simple. It is tinged with sorrow for the hostages who will be returned to their families only for burial, and our hearts ache for the families of terror victims who must now endure the pain of seeing perpetrators released. We must hold both these truths at once: the profound relief of lives saved and the deep anguish of justice feeling deferred. This is the heavy price of bringing our people home.
As a community, let us continue to offer our prayers for the safe return of every hostage, for the healing of all who have been traumatized, and for the comfort of all who mourn. May this significant step be not an end, but a beginning—a doorway to a future where peace can take root for the Jewish people—in Israel and here at home—and indeed for all people.
We also extend our deepest gratitude to Ottawa’s Christian clergy and their community members for their ongoing, enduring messages of support, for the dialogues and friendship gatherings, for the antisemitism awareness education they’ve brought to their own places of worship, and for showing up for the Jewish community where and when it’s counted most.
May the One who makes peace in the high heavens, Oseh shalom bimromav, bring peace to us, to all Israel, and to all the world.
Cantor Jason Green