The Cry of Captivity/The Hope of Reunion
Vayigash 5784
Every hour, at 29 minutes past the hour, protestors block access to the Ministry of Defense compound in Tel Aviv for 240 seconds. During those four minutes, a protestor, a different one every time, holds a microphone and shares a story about one of the hostages still being held in Gaza. The start time marks the start of Hamas’ attack, which began at 6:29 AM on October 7th, and the duration of the disruption is a reminder of the original number of hostages taken: 240.
Thank God, with more than 100 released last month, that number has dropped to 128. But there are still 128 people being held in captivity, and after 77 days their families fear that their cause is being forgotten. And so, they protest, every hour, demanding that more be done to bring their loved ones home…
In our tradition, the plight of the hostage is sacrosanct. Pidyon Shvuyim, the redeeming of captives, is a sacred communal responsibility. While there is a great deal of rabbinic discourse around the appropriate means and practical implications of securing their release, some of our greatest sages are unequivocal. According to Maimonides, “there is no mitzvah as great as the redemption of captives.”
If I had come across this quote three months ago, I wouldn’t have understood it. I — we — had been fortunate enough to live in a time where this wasn’t an overwhelming Jewish concern. But I understand it now…