Give thanks to God for God is good; God’s steadfast love is eternal
Psalm 136:1
A Message from Rabbi Hillel Skolnik, President, MERCAZ USA
These sacred words, chanted multiple times this morning as we mark the final day of Sukkot, were expressed with extra gratitude and thanks as we witnessed the return of the twenty living hostages from Gaza. Seeing them walk under their own power and watching reunification with their families, it felt as if we were hugging them as they were hugging their loved ones. The tears in our eyes were ones of joy we never thought would come.
Mixed with those tears are the tears of sorrow as we continue to wait for the return of the deceased hostages. Indications are that some will be returned today, though not all of them meaning that some families will enter into Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah still longing for their loved ones.
And so we will enter this chag prepared to heed Rachel Goldberg Polin’s words and ready for the delicate balance it already contains. We will recite Yizkor on Tuesday morning and dance with the Torah on Tuesday evening. We must and of course will celebrate the twenty living hostages, mourn with the families whose loved ones’ bodies are returned to them and continue to demand the return of every single one until each of them are returned home. That is what “Et Kulam Achshav” means – “All of them, now.” We will not rest until it is finally all of them.
Chag Sameach.