September 6, 2024

I was supposed to be in Israel this week on a Federation mission with a group of leaders from across our community. Our trip was, sadly, postponed because of flight cancellations. All week I’ve been thinking about what it would have been like to be there this week. 

The news this past weekend of the six hostages, who survived for eleven months only to be executed by Hamas in the tunnels of Gaza, have left us with no words. 

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Ori Danino. May their memories be a blessing.

Words are not enough…

Many kids in our community have started the school year in recent days. Whether at a Jewish day school, public, or any other, the start of the school year oftentimes brings a mix of anticipation, excitement, and worry. It is a time when parents send their kids off with a myriad of hopes for their child: personal growth, meaningful learning, and lasting friendships. 

At the start of this school year, my thoughts have been of Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, parents of Hersh. Rachel and Jon held onto so much hope for their son. As they traveled the world doing everything possible to bring back their son, they showed us that a parent’s love has no bounds. And yet, it wasn’t enough. I imagine many parents are holding their children just a little tighter this week thinking about Rachel and Jon, and Hersh. When words are not enough, the eternal love of parents for their child can offer comfort.

Words are not enough…

This week we marked Rosh Chodesh Elul, the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul, which leads up to Rosh Hashanah, the start of the new year. Many communities blow the shofar daily during Elul, serving as a symbolic wake-up call for reflection and introspection in this month. As the shofar is blown this month, it serves as a collective voice of our mourning and pain, and also a wake-up call that we must hold onto hope. When words are not enough, the sound of the shofar can speak for us.

Words are not enough…

In his eulogy at Hersh’s funeral, Israeli President Isaac Herzog shared: 

“As a human being, as a father, and as the President of the State of Israel, I want to say how sorry I am. How sorry I am that we didn’t protect Hersh on that dark day. How sorry I am that we failed to bring him home.

In his life and in his death Hersh has touched all of humanity deeply. He has changed our world. And woven his essence of light and love into the story of the Jewish people and into our human story, forever.

From here, I call upon the international community: The time to act is now: Bring them home.”

We saw hundreds of thousands of Israelis take to the streets this week echoing President Herzog, and calling on the Israeli government to bring the hostages home. When words are not enough, we must find the willpower to take action, to call on leaders to lead, and to hold on to hope for tomorrow. 

Shabbat Shalom – may it be a shabbat of peace,

Solly Kane, President & CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle