This week, we marked 500 days since Hamas unleashed unspeakable terror on our brothers and sisters in Israel. 500 days of families living in agony, not knowing if their loved ones are alive and suffering, or worse. 500 days of the worst antisemitism we have seen in a generation.
500 days in which innocent men, women, children, and the elderly have remained in captivity—abused, terrorized, and dehumanized—while much of the world looks away. We have not. We will not.
Since October 7, our community has gathered week after week, standing together in solidarity, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. We have held up posters of their faces and demanded their safe return. And yet, 500 days later, they remain in the clutches of Hamas, a ruthless terror organization, with no access to medical aid, no communication with their families, with their fates uncertain.
“Many have worked tirelessly to keep the plight of the hostages front and centre in our community—whether it is speaking up at gatherings, attending weekly rallies, or personally displaying signs and symbols calling for their freedom. Our community is made stronger by their vigilance,” said Paula Parks, Chair of the Federation. “We can only hope and pray that we see the release of all of the remaining hostages as soon as possible.”
Of all the horrors of October 7, few are as seared into our minds as the plight of the Bibas family. Shiri Bibas, 32 years old, was dragged into captivity, clutching her two red-headed boys—4-year-old Ariel and 9-month-old Kfir—the youngest hostage taken that day. Their terrified faces have haunted us for 500 days. We marked their birthdays in captivity, hoping that they would celebrate their next birthdays in freedom. Then yesterday, the worst fears of their loved ones and Jewish people everywhere were realized.
Not only did Hamas kidnap and murder two innocent children, but forensic evidence shows it happened roughly a month into their captivity. Adding to the cruelty, Hamas lied about returning the body of their mother, Shiri, compounding the pain of a grieving family already shattered by unimaginable loss.
“The cold-blooded murder of Ariel and Kfir in captivity is an atrocity beyond words,” said Jeff Lieberman, President and CEO of the Federation. “No person should have to endure what Yarden Bibas is facing today. Jewish people everywhere await news on Shiri’s fate, praying that her body, if recovered, can be laid to rest with dignity. We grieve with the Bibas family, we grieve with Jewish people everywhere, and we demand that every remaining hostage be returned now.”
Our Federation, alongside Jewish Federations across North America, has vowed to keep fighting—to ensure that every hostage comes home, to help Israel rebuild, to challenge and condemn antisemitism wherever it occurs, and to do all within our power to ensure our Jewish community continues to flourish.
Even if you have never attended before, there is no better time to join the Sunday rally for the hostages and stand together in their name. Immediately following the rally, a vigil will be held at Adas Yeshurun Herzliya to mourn the fallen hostages and other victims of Hamas. Details for both events are below.
Our demand remains ever clear: Bring them home now. Not one more day. Now.