Last night, so many of us and our families and friends in Israel were glued to our screens, waiting for the moment when Romi, Emily, and Doron would leave their nightmarish captivity and be taken into their mothers’ arms. Tears came easy last night—tears of joy tinged with sorrow, faces of a war which has taken too many innocent lives. As these women begin their long road to recovery in the warm embrace of their families and the Jewish people, we finally have inklings of hope that the war will soon come to an end.
The power of our community makes our voices strong. Let’s use that power to pray for peace and that we may learn to live together and not against each other. May all hostages be released, and may a lasting peace come for the people of Israel, Gaza and the entire region.
In this emotionally charged situation, two of Hillel's values are of particular importance to us: Torah and community. The Torah teaches us to believe in a God who loves life, holds on to it and wants it to flourish in the world. Now, we hope, the time has come when life and peace will once again be promoted in the region and war and destruction will come to an end.
