Release the Hostages at Any Cost

Our brothers, all the house of Israel
Those who are in distress and captivity
Who stand between the sea and the dry land
May the place have mercy on them
And bring them out from distress to relief
And from darkness to light
And from bondage to redemption
Now, quickly and in a near time
And let us say, Amen

The origin of this request is in the order of Rav Amram Gaon, from the ninth century. It is recited on Mondays and Thursdays and does not appear in the literature of the Sages of the Talmudic era. Only centuries later was it fixed in the prayer books. Nevertheless, this prayer is a profound testimony to the distress of the Jews throughout the years of exile—and even to this very day.

These days our brothers and sisters are held captive. Throughout the years of exile, the people of Israel engaged in prayers and supplications, established charity funds for redeeming captives, and public emissaries acted in faith, traveling great distances and facing many dangers to free captives and return them to their homes.

Today, when the people of Israel have established a political framework for the life of the land of Israel, and possess the power to act for the hostages and their release, we find ourselves in deep confusion and blindness. Precisely in a generation of sovereignty and power, it seems we have forgotten what we knew well in the years of exile: redeeming captives is among the greatest duties of the people of Israel.

We were warned by the holy prophets not to trust in “my strength and the power of my hand.” Therefore, we must not rely solely on our military power, nor on might, intimidation, or arrogance. We must adopt the recognition that power, when it becomes an end in itself, is an illusion.

Therefore, we say: we must act as Israel has acted for generations—with conscience, morality, faith, and full mission on behalf of our brothers held captive. All who delay the release of the hostages do so not out of faith, but out of fear, intimidation, and lack of confidence in the Rock of Israel and its Redeemer.

The political situation, and even more so the state of affairs we have fallen into since the tragedy of October, is extremely complex and difficult. Yet the solution does not lie in displays of force, arrogance, or the illusion that problems which have developed over decades can be resolved in a few months.

And even if there is such or another solution, it cannot be done at the expense of our brothers and sisters held captive and in distress.

We call on the citizens of Israel, and all whose hearts are sensitive to this pain, to join the call and support a movement that will bring public and political pressure on decision-makers to reach a deal for the release of the hostages. Such a deal may include withdrawal from Gaza and the release of prisoners from prisons, with the painful and clear recognition that the State of Israel lost in the tragedy of October.

There is no other victory except the return of the hostages.

There is no other rectification before their return.

There is no peace in the house of Israel as long as our brothers and sisters are in distress and captivity.