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Freedom is the ability to make choices and is a basic human right. What is the importance of freedom in everyday life? What is my obligation to fight for other people’s freedom? How can I make a difference in such a big story?  Each person on this planet deserves to determine their own fate, to make their own decisions. 

Fighting for freedom requires staying power, patience, dedication and faith in our own abilities to effect change. Justice requires that we be creative to do everything we can to make people aware, and accelerate the return of all hostages to their families.

How can we send a powerful message to the families of the hostages in Gaza that they are not forgotten? How can we keep this issue alive for our leaders in government so they will work for their release?

The 100th day in captivity almost exactly coincides with MLK day. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us important lessons about freedom and fighting for justice, which can inform our actions today and raise awareness about freeing the hostages. How can we learn from MLK to use our words to bring a voice to our movement? Who might be our allies? What can we do EVERY day?

What stories do all three Abrahamic faiths share in common that can shed light on the basic human rights to freedom and just treatment? How might our religious narratives help us take action for the hostages, regardless of their faith, and regardless of ours? 

Trees, plants, and the seeds they start from, are a metaphor for life, growth and renewal. Just as seeds need proper light, water, food and caring to grow, so do humans. We need to dig deep, find the compassion to care about each person and ensure that they have the freedom and conditions to survive and to thrive. Compassion, justice and love are core Jewish and human values. We must act in order to tend our “compassion muscles.” Compassion is not finite, it energizes and enables others to pay it forward.

One of the basic tenets of parenthood is the responsibility of the parent to care for their child and protect them. Maya Angelou wrote: “Each child belongs to all of us and they will bring us a tomorrow in direct relation to the responsibility we have shown to them.” Parents are fierce protectors of their children and we are all the protectors of the next generation. Use your voice and your power as a parent to reach across cultures and religions to help release the hostages in Gaza so they can continue to grow in freedom.

The issues of leadership and responsibility are naturally front and center in the story of redeeming the captives. Who is responsible in this case? Have our official leaders taken the necessary course of action? Have we, as individuals and as a community, taken responsibility for those suffering within us? 

As we will learn, there is a Torah obligation to care for the elderly. There are still elderly hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. The majority of these hostages are male. At least 10 of the hostages are 75 or older. We know nothing of their fate. Do they have the medicines they need? Are they being treated with kindness? Do they have blankets to keep warm and enough food to eat? Are they suffering from long term illnesses that require treatment? Who is looking out for them?

What is the value of family? Who are my family members? Are they only my immediate family? What is my connection to the larger Jewish People? Where am I in the story? Do I have responsibility to my family? If so, what is it? Are hostages of all faiths and nationalities currently captured in Gaza a priority for us?

Many of us find ourselves in situations where supporting Israel’s right to defend herself and return the hostages is perceived to be at the expense of caring for the dignity of Palestinians. This binary puts many humanitarian issues at the heart of the issue. Are we really advocating to care for the Israeli people by ensuring that innocent Gazans suffer? This session models how this exact conundrum plays out using Polarities Thinking, demonstrating that empathy is not exclusive and that caring for ourselves doesn’t have to be at the expense of caring for others.

All humans deserve to be safe and secure and each individual is a world unto himself- עולם ומלואו. Each human being comprises their own unique and full understanding and contributions to the world. We need each one’s gifts for our world to be complete. We are all human and as our circles of responsibility and interconnectivity overlap we feel closer and closer to each other and benefit from the gifts each person brings to the world. We are more complete as a whole when every human is honored and is at home. How can we be inspired by various artistic expressions to remember the hostages? What can we create and make in our communities to help keep the hostages in mind and not to forget?

Shabbat is a precious time in Jewish tradition. It is a time for rest and contemplation, when we come together, as a family and in community. As we gather with our own families, we remember those families who have had to spend way too many Shabbatot without the presence of their loved ones, not knowing where they are or what they are going through. Many of the rituals related to Shabbat provide opportunities for us to remember the hostages and pray for their return. Specifically, we will explore the rituals of lighting candles, of blessing the children and the Shabbat table.

Unfortunately, the concept of Jews being held captive by their enemies, for ransom or other reasons is not a new one. Throughout Jewish history, we have had to deal with this reality and, in addition to the practical and moral questions about redeeming captives, our tradition has developed prayers to beseech God on their behalf. In this session, we offer a few ways of engaging in prayer on behalf of the hostages.

One of the gifts of living in a democracy is the ability to amplify even the smallest voice and make it heard in the most powerful halls of government. You can keep the plight of the hostages as top priority for American legislators by taking the time to call, write and visit your representatives. Urge Congress to work with the international community, and particularly Qatar, in securing the immediate release of all hostages. In this unit you can find ideas for political activism which can take as little as one minute and as much as a day. Any time investment is worthwhile!! For a deeper lesson in civic activism, we give you some tools and encourage you to take your students on a trip to Washington, DC to advocate in person on behalf of the hostages.

July 4, 1976. The world stood in awe. The day in which the world would congratulate the United States on its bicentennial, the headlines were stolen by a tiny country in the Middle East. In a daring, unprecedented move, Israeli commando units swooped down on Entebbe, Uganda, freeing 101 Jewish captives and flying them safely back to Israel. The Jewish world swelled with pride at this incredibly daring feat, at the sight of Jewish soldiers saving their fellow people from the hands of those who wished to harm them! Redeeming captives is not a mitzvah only recently discovered along with Entebbe or Gilad Shalit. It has deep roots in Jewish sources- with examples and stories throughout Jewish history. It is the topic of much debate in discussion, in the Talmud and in Jewish law. What is the Jewish imperative for Pidyon Shvuyim? Why is it so important and why is it so complicated? In this unit, we include two options of exploring the issue- a text study for a group setting, as well as a series of short podcasts on the topic.

The issues of leadership and responsibility are naturally front and center in the story of redeeming the captives. Who is responsible in this case? Have our official leaders taken the necessary course of action? Have we, as individuals and as a community, taken responsibility for those suffering within us? 

Every human being has a story. It deserves to be told and heard. Every time one tells a story it is a bit different based on where they are in the world that day and who they are telling it to. Stories are what people remember and repeat. They have the power to change opinions and create new realities. Stories are the foundation of memory.At this moment in time, one of the greatest tools we have to help the hostages is our ability to share their stories. Every single hostage has a story that needs to be told. And heard.

The topic of the interconnectedness between human beings was apparently on the mind of 23 year old Hersh Goldberg Polin before he was taken captive by Hamas on October 7th. Hersh was in the middle of reading “The Art of Happiness” by Howard C. Cutler and the Dalai Lama. His bookmark is at Chapter Six, awaiting his return. Rather than emphasizing the differences between people, the interconnectedness approach allows us to see the similarity within humanity. Knowing we are all connected can spark a new level of empathy and commitment to the well-being of the other. How might this approach be helpful to us in advocating for the release of the hostages?

Why have the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other humanitarian agencies been unable to fulfill their own charters to take care of the Israeli hostages of October 7? Why does the ICRC continue its presence in Gaza while ignoring its continued impotence regarding the Israeli hostages? How does this embody neutrality, impartiality and independence? How can it justify its historic lack of neutrality and partiality? Where is the accountability for the ICRC and other EU-recognized organizations for their inability/inaction in helping the hostages and yet helping all other peoples?

The Tu B’Shvat seder, modeled after the Passover seder, traditionally includes eating a variety of fruits and nuts and drinking four cups of wine of various colors and is an opportunity to celebrate the species that are unique to the land of Israel.The seder has kabbalistic roots and was first mentioned in the book Pri Etz Hadar, written in the 18th century. There is room for much creativity when planning a Tu B’shvat seder, including the choice of foods, readings, and discussions. This year, the people of Israel cannot properly celebrate the bounty of the Land of Israel, as they are both grieving for those that have fallen on and since October 7th, as well as pained by the fact that so many are being held hostage still in Gaza. This Tu B’shvat Seder has been specially adapted and dedicated to raising awareness about the Israeli hostages being held in Gaza and to move participants to advocate on their behalf. As we engage in this Seder, let us pledge to do what we can to spread its messages and do what we can to free our hostages.

Purim is the only Jewish Holiday where the story fully occurred outside of Israel. Where can we, as Jews who live in and outside of Israel, get inspiration from the story of Purim to motivate us to advocate for the Jewish people? What is the connection between giving and receiving gifts and celebration? How does the act of Mishloach Manot build community?

 

To make the beloved recipes of some of the hostages and include them in your Mishloach Manot, click here. 

There is a commandment in the Torah which calls on every person over the age of 20 to contribute a half-shekel to the community. This commandment is read in synagogues today during the regular Torah reading cycle, with an additional reading that highlights this commandment on the Shabbat leading into the month of Adar (or Adar Bet during a leap year). How can we use the values behind this mitzvah to illustrate the importance that each and every person contribute to bringing the hostages home?

March is the month when we celebrate women as change-makers, both on International Women’s Day and on Ta’anit Esther and Purim. Esther and Henrietta Szold are two examples of female figures in our communal history who sparked important change for the Jewish people. How might we draw inspiration from Esther and Henrietta Szold’s actions to spark change in our communities today and do our part to bring the hostages home?

We are not alone in this world. Each of us belongs to a specific cultural or religious community and, at the same time, we are part of the human race. What is my responsibility towards others? How do I balance my self-interests with my obligation to care for others? Standing up for others requires staying power, courage, determination and faith in our leaders’ abilities to support us in our mission. The hostage crisis in Gaza affects not only the Jewish people, but all people throughout the world. How should we advocate on behalf of the hostages? What is the message we should convey to our political leaders? How do we remain hopeful and vigilant even with the passage of time?

Are you a Jewish leader who has an opportunity to teach and inspire based on the weekly Torah portion? Shabbat is a time for reflection, learning and inspiration. How might Torah and the Jewish weekly time cycle help you keep the issue of hostages in the forefront of your community’s agenda? Each week, come here to download the Parsha Page which provides access points and action items connected to this week’s Parsha. Use this as a foundation and inspiration for writing and delivering your own personalized Dvar Torah.

Ta’anit Esther, the Fast of Esther, is a day of fasting before the holiday of Purim. In the Megillah, the scroll of Esther, Esther requests of Mordecai and all her fellow Jews to join her and her handmaids, in a fast for three days as a symbol of communal solidarity and pain, before she approaches King Ahasuerus to plead on behalf of her people. Later, the 13th of Adar, the day before Purim, was set as a day of fasting, called Taanit Esther: The Fast of Esther. Some years, such as this year, it is observed on the 11th of Adar, which this year is on Thursday, March 21st. The traditional practice is to refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. We fast to pray for life, to ask for forgiveness and to plead to be saved from danger. This year, as we face the painful reality of war and 134 of our people held hostage in Gaza, there’s an initiative to mobilize all the Jewish people to join and observe this day of fasting (whether that is their usual practice or not), as an act of solidarity with their plight, to pray and call for their safe return.

Questions are the order of the seder night, and it is the children present who are envisioned asking them. This year, many families will be missing their children, or their parents, or their siblings, or their cousins. Some of those individuals were murdered, some fell in battle, and some are still being held hostage, after more than six months, in Gaza. So this year, at your seder, consider asking questions on their behalf, since they can’t do it themselves. This unit includes question-related activities that you could consider including in your Seder. These could also be adapted as a Pre-Pesach unit in a classroom setting which students could engage with in preparation for Pesach and bring home to their family Seders.

Upstander (noun): One who speaks, acts and/or intervenes in support of an individual or a group of people being intimidated, bullied or attacked or intimidated, often at great risk to oneself. 

“We must ask ourselves: Do I aspire to be human, or am I swept up in the enticing and delicious world of hatred?” -Rachel Goldberg, Mother of Hostage Hersh Goldberg Polin, United Nations Speech, October 24, 2024

Pesah celebrates the quintessential moment of Jewish redemption, the Exodus from Egypt, which has informed Jewish responses to moments of collective suffering throughout Jewish history. As such, there is no more appropriate moment to acknowledge and respond to the suffering of our brethren in captivity in Gaza than during our retelling of the Exodus narrative. The mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim—redeeming captives—is a Jewish obligation… in the same category as the Jewish obligations that we fulfill each year at our Seders: eating matzah and maror, recounting the Exodus from Egypt, and singing God’s praises. This resource offers a practical, adaptable activity to help Seder participants of all ages to make connections between the obligations of Pesah and our collective obligation to redeem our captives. In this activity, not only the afikoman, but several ritual items needed to fulfill our obligations at the Seder, are in turn hidden, discovered, and redeemed. The jarring image of the empty Seder plate at the center of our holiday table serves to highlight the plight of the captives who are jarringly absent from their families’ Seder tables this year. The return of each set of ritual items is accompanied by intentions and prompts for thoughtful reflection that connect Pesah’s story and rituals to the plight of the hostages, and the gradual replenishing of the Seder plate embodies our deep longing for their redemption.

This year, in anticipation of Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut in a post October 7th world, the M² team commissioned designer Eli Kaplan Wildmann to create evocative artwork which can be used as a facilitation tool to engage learners in the experiences and feelings they have encountered during the past months. Unfortunately, we are now nearing the one year anniversary of October 7th, and these questions are still very much present. We invite you to use these postcards / posters also as a way to engage with the questions of memory and independence in a situation where we still have over 101 people being held captive in Gaza.

Using moving and powerful clips from two episodes of Israel Story’s Wartime Diaries podcast series, we will meet the parents of two hostages—Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Alon Ohel, both of whom were abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7—and hear about the different ways in which they take action toward the release of their sons.

During the holiday of Sukkot, on the weekend of October 6-7, 2023, thousands of young Israelis and foreign nationals attended a music festival at Kibbutz Re’im in Southern Israel. The Supernova festival, known as ‘Nova’, expressed the values of “free love and spirit, environmental preservation, and appreciation of rare natural values that the festival embodies.” At 6:30 am on October 7, 2023, festival goers at Nova were attacked by Hamas; hundreds of people were chased, murdered, and taken hostage by Hamas. The final figure communicated by police on November 17, 2023 was 364 dead, including 17 police officers, and 40 young people were abducted from the festival. Human dignity, valuing life and honoring the right of all humans to live free, was denied to countless Nova festival goers on October 7th. While there may be little that we can physically do, from thousands of miles away, to console those who lost family members and friends or who have family members or friends being held in captivity, there are small things that we can do to show care, compassion, and keep the names of those in captivity alive. In this activity, we try to connect students with the hostages, by creating kandi bracelets with their names.

During the period between Passover and the holiday of Shavuot, there is a unique commandment to Count the Omer – to count each of the 49 days, seven weeks, from the second day of Passover, until Shavuot. Inspired by this Jewish concept of counting the days of the Omer, we will explore the connection between counting and making things count. We will find ways to count the days the captives have been held in captivity, and use our counting as a way to raise awareness of their plight.

We’re in the midst of summer camp season, and we encourage camp counselors and staff to run activities with their campers on behalf of the hostages. In memory of Omer Neutra. His story can inspire reflection and action.