A Day of Hope & Healing: All Living Hostages Released from Gaza

Dear friends,

For two years, this is the message we have desperately hoped to share. After 738 grueling days, all the remaining living hostages are back in the embrace of their families, of a loving nation, and of a strong Jewish people. We have collectively been holding our breath, waiting for this moment. The images leave us speechless – filled with relief and joy at their return, burdened by the painful knowledge that their healing will be long and difficult, and grieving for the 28 who did not survive captivity.

In San Diego, we have prayed for the day when the remaining three hostages from our partner region, Ziv and Gali Berman and Omri Miran, would be reunited with their families. Over and over again, the people of Sha’ar HaNegev told us they would not be whole until the day Omri, Ziv and Gali came home. That day is today.

The words of the shecheyanu prayer, which we recite when we realize the miracle of the present moment, feel especially sweet.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Translation:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

As we start the Torah anew this week, we hope for a time of renewal and healing for the hostages, their families and the State of Israel.

I invite you to read the full statement from our partners at Jewish Federations of North America included below.

Heidi Gantwerk, President & CEO
Jewish Federation of San Diego

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Jewish Federations rejoice as 20 living hostages return home to Israel

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

For 738 days, 48 out of 250 people kidnapped from Israel have been held in captivity by Hamas terrorists, in horrific conditions.  

Through 18 major Jewish holidays and 105 Shabbat dinners, Jewish families in Israel and around the world had empty chairs at our tables, yellow ribbons on our lapels, and fractures in our hearts. 

Each of those 1 million minutes was filled with anguish and uncertainty — wondering if the hostages would live or die, knowing that the Jewish people were incomplete without them. 

Today we rejoice as the 20 surviving hostages come home to their loved ones and finally fill the empty chairs at our tables and begin mending our broken hearts. Jewish Federations across North America and Jews everywhere celebrate this long-awaited moment of relief and joy, standing in solidarity with the families and the people of Israel. 

We welcome the long-awaited return of:  

1. Matan Angrest 
2. Gali Berman 
3. Ziv Berman 
4. Elkana Bohbot  
5. Rom Braslavski  
6. Avinatan Or  
7. Yosef-Haim Ohana  
8. Alon Ohel  
9. Evyatar David  
10. Guy Gilboa-Dalal  
11. Omri Miran  
12. Eitan Mor  
13. Segev Kalfon  
14. Nimrod Cohen  
15. Maxim Herkin  
16. Eitan Horn  
17. Bar Kupershtein  
18. Matan Zangauker  
19. Ariel Cunio  
20. David Cunio 

We also mourn the indelible loss of 28 people who faced down Hamas with heroism and bravery but did not survive captivity, whose bodies are expected to return home in the coming hours and days. We pray for their families and loved ones to be able to give them the proper burial they deserve. May they be comforted among all the mourners of Zion.  

We honor the resilience of the hostages and their families and continue to pray for all whose lives have been shattered by terror. They built their cause into a social movement that has garnered support across the globe and never wavered. 

We also take this moment to recognize the enormous sacrifice and service of Israel’s soldiers and their families, who put their time, their economic wellbeing, their bodies, and their lives on the line to protect Israel during this horrific period. We mourn the loss of 915 soldiers who died as they fought successfully to get the hostages home and defeat Israel’s enemies.  

We are grateful to President Trump and his negotiators whose tireless efforts made this day possible. 

May this moment mark the beginning of comfort and renewal for the people of Israel and the Jewish people everywhere.