I’m wondering if anyone else has a hostage “ritual” or piece of jewelry that they are looking forward to not doing or wearing anymore — or have been thinking about how it will be weird for it to be the last time.
I’ve been lighting candles every night and can’t imagine not doing it after 2 years.
For the past two years our temple has run a slideshow of all of the hostages every Friday night (and some holidays) while we sing the prayer for the hostages. To be honest to this day I don’t know whether someone at our temple made it and it’s just been our own little community thing, or if they got it from somewhere else and maybe temples all over the county have been playing it? It started right after October 7, and over the years there are fewer and fewer faces and names. At high holy days this year there were so few left, and even though it meant many had come home, it of course meant many had died, and even more than that, the situation just felt so much more dire and desperate for these “last living hostages.” We didn’t have the slideshow this Friday night because we were out in the sukkah, and when it was time to say the prayer the rabbi commented that, we didn’t think last week it was the last time we’d run the slideshow, but maybe it was the last time we’d run the slideshow 🙏
Since the March for Israel in Nov. '23, I've worn an "Am Yisrael Chai" pin, the yellow hostage pin, or a dog tag nearly every day. I began wearing the Am Yisrael Chai pin because I'd overheard one of the Israeli owners of a dance studio that I attend saying "it feels like no one cares". That has been the primary reason why I've worn something since. Once I switched to the yellow ribbon and dogtag in April '24, the decision took on another dimension though. Could I really stop wearing it until the hostages were back? What if they never come back? How many have to come home for it to be "enough"? How long will their torture continue?
I'm doing my absolute best not to think about the hostages coming home until it happens. However, the times I've involuntarily thought about retiring the pin and tag has been emotionally overwhelming. I think the pregnant absence of that ritual will be as joyous a reminder as wearing them was grave.
This was one of your best podcasts ever!!!! Especially because I listened to it today, when all the living hostages are back home. I guess Chaya Leah threatening God worked!!! :D You are both amazing, thank you for sharing your friendship with us!
I’ve worn a hostage necklace for every single day since December 2023. I’m going to replace it with a bigger Star of David.
I’m wondering if anyone else has a hostage “ritual” or piece of jewelry that they are looking forward to not doing or wearing anymore — or have been thinking about how it will be weird for it to be the last time.
I’ve been lighting candles every night and can’t imagine not doing it after 2 years.
For the past two years our temple has run a slideshow of all of the hostages every Friday night (and some holidays) while we sing the prayer for the hostages. To be honest to this day I don’t know whether someone at our temple made it and it’s just been our own little community thing, or if they got it from somewhere else and maybe temples all over the county have been playing it? It started right after October 7, and over the years there are fewer and fewer faces and names. At high holy days this year there were so few left, and even though it meant many had come home, it of course meant many had died, and even more than that, the situation just felt so much more dire and desperate for these “last living hostages.” We didn’t have the slideshow this Friday night because we were out in the sukkah, and when it was time to say the prayer the rabbi commented that, we didn’t think last week it was the last time we’d run the slideshow, but maybe it was the last time we’d run the slideshow 🙏
Since the March for Israel in Nov. '23, I've worn an "Am Yisrael Chai" pin, the yellow hostage pin, or a dog tag nearly every day. I began wearing the Am Yisrael Chai pin because I'd overheard one of the Israeli owners of a dance studio that I attend saying "it feels like no one cares". That has been the primary reason why I've worn something since. Once I switched to the yellow ribbon and dogtag in April '24, the decision took on another dimension though. Could I really stop wearing it until the hostages were back? What if they never come back? How many have to come home for it to be "enough"? How long will their torture continue?
I'm doing my absolute best not to think about the hostages coming home until it happens. However, the times I've involuntarily thought about retiring the pin and tag has been emotionally overwhelming. I think the pregnant absence of that ritual will be as joyous a reminder as wearing them was grave.
Agree with Chiara, this was one of my faves. I love laughing along with both of you and I’m so grateful for your conversations!
This was one of your best podcasts ever!!!! Especially because I listened to it today, when all the living hostages are back home. I guess Chaya Leah threatening God worked!!! :D You are both amazing, thank you for sharing your friendship with us!