Jewish Moments

Hear Our Pleas:
Action through Prayer

What prayer traditions and customs do we have to pray on behalf of the hostages? What are the various new forms of prayer we can create in order to plead for a brighter future?

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.

Students of 11 Jewish Day Schools Sing and Pray for Israel and the Hostages

Dedicate this activity in honor of

Alexander Dancyg Z"L

Alex was a scholar and historian of the Holocaust. He was taken from his home in Nir Oz. In July 2024, the IDF confirmed his death in Hamas captivity. 

You May Also Like
Shabbat: Remember & Observe
Remember & Observe: Shabbat Rituals
What inspiration can we take from our weekly Shabbat rituals to remind us of the hostages?
Remember & Observe: Shabbat Rituals
Remember & Observe: Shabbat Rituals
Weekly Words of Torah
Weekly Words of Torah
What inspiration and learning might we find in this week’s Parsha (Torah Portion) about the issue of the hostages?
Weekly Words of Torah
Weekly Words of Torah
Counting Up
Counting Up
What can we learn from Jewish tradition about the act of counting?
Counting Up
Counting Up
Bringing the Hostages to Your Seder
Bringing the Hostages to Your Seder: Seder Supplement
How might we integrate hope for the return of our hostages into our Seders this year?
Bringing the Hostages to Your Seder: Seder Supplement
Bringing the Hostages to Your Seder: Seder Supplement
Fast on my Behalf: Ta'anit Esther
The Fast of Esther: A Time for Communal Gathering & Solidarity
What might we learn from the Jewish tradition of communal fasting and prayer?
The Fast of Esther: A Time for Communal Gathering & Solidarity
The Fast of Esther: A Time for Communal Gathering & Solidarity
The Mitzvah of Donating Half a Shekel
Counting Each Person: The Mitzvah of Donating Half a Shekel
What is the biblical commandment of donating half a shekel, connecting with the month of Adar?
Counting Each Person: The Mitzvah of Donating Half a Shekel
Counting Each Person: The Mitzvah of Donating Half a Shekel
Bring Home the Hostages
Tu B'Shvat Seder
Bring Home the Hostages Tu B’Shvat Seder
A Tu B’Shvat Experience Dedicated to the Hostages
Bring Home the Hostages Tu B’Shvat Seder
Bring Home the Hostages Tu B’Shvat Seder
The 
#BringThemHomeNow 
Educational Toolkit
Stay informed about Everyone Counts updates and new resources

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Skip to content