The Hostage Deal – Israel’s Sacred Stand for Life

IFCJ Canada  |  January 22, 2025

Our hearts are full. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Today, we cling to hope as we take the first steps toward bringing our loved ones home.

For nearly five hundred days, a shadow has hung over our nation. Israelis—infants, elders, entire families—were ripped from their homes, torn from their lives, and plunged into the abyss. They were kidnapped by Hamas, imprisoned in Gaza’s hellish tunnels, and subjected to cruelty beyond words. Their only crime? Being Israeli. Being Jewish.

This week, we read the opening chapters of the book of Exodus and hear the timeless cry of our ancestors in Egypt: “I have seen the affliction of My people… I know their pain.” Those words resonate in our hearts as we witness the suffering of the hostages, enduring horrors that defy comprehension.

Last week, a chilling video emerged of Liri Albag, an 18-year-old girl held hostage since October 7, 2023. Her face was gaunt, her fear palpable. Around her neck was a dog collar. A young woman, dehumanized and degraded, treated as less than an animal. This is who Hamas is—a force devoid of humanity.

And now, a hostage deal. Is it fair? No. It is excruciatingly lopsided: a handful of our loved ones for thousands of killers—many with innocent blood on their hands.

So why would we make such a deal?

Because this is who we are. This is what it means to be Israel.

This is not a decision born of weakness. It is a declaration of strength—a profound reflection of the enduring values of our people, shaped by the Torah and etched into our national soul. It is a statement to the world that we will sacrifice, endure, and persevere to honour the sanctity of life.

Israel’s values are Canada’s values. Both nations cherish freedom, democracy, and the inalienable dignity of life. But freedom is not free. It requires vigilance, sacrifice, and an unyielding commitment to justice.

This hostage deal is neither fair nor just. It is painful, and it feels wrong. Yet it is also a resounding declaration to the world: we choose life. We choose hope. We choose to uphold the values that make life worth living.

If Hamas honours this deal, some of our loved ones will return home. Many, tragically, will not. But we believe that our prayers—offered with tears, hope, and trembling over these many months—have been heard. We thank God for His mercy and compassion, and we pray for the hostages’ healing, for their strength to reclaim life, and for the resolve of our people to continue sanctifying life even amidst the darkest trials.

As we open the book of Exodus and recall our ancestors’ liberation from bondage, we are reminded that the story of Israel has always been one of hope triumphing over despair, of life prevailing over death. May we continue to stand firm in our mission: to bring light into the darkness, to sanctify the life God has gifted us, and to uphold the values that define us as a people.

With blessings from the Holy Land,