A prayer for our hostages as we celebrate the holiday of freedom - editorial

• Published date: 12 April 2024
• Author: JPOST EDITORIAL
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

While we are appreciative of Rabbi Lau's action and the powerful words of his prayer, we pray that the hostages will come home before Passover, so that we can all observe the Festival of Freedom together

"In a few days we will sit at the Seder table," Lau wrote in a special letter in Hebrew introducing the prayer. "We will talk about the hardships and slavery in Egypt, and we will give thanks for the salvation that we have received. However, not all family members will be seated at their tables. There are families in which missing loved ones and emptiness scream out.

"The seats of the murdered and those abducted by the people of evil are left empty."

We are obligated to feel the pain of our people and pray for them

Addressing the Jewish people, he said: "Each one of us has the holy obligation to feel the pain of our neighbor and to recite a special prayer during the momentous event of reading the Passover Haggadah, and to remember and pray for those hostages who are in pain and captivity."

The chief rabbi's Yehi Ratzon prayer, also written in Hebrew, can be translated to English as follows:

"May it be the will of our Father in Heaven, who took the people of Israel out of the yoke of Egypt, to bless and save our brothers and sisters, the hostages who are held in iron chains, strengthen their souls and faith, protect them from all harm and sickness, have mercy on His sons and daughters who seek His salvation, and annul all cruel decrees. With His great kindness, may He expedite their redemption and speedily take them from darkness to light, and from the abyss of captivity to eternal freedom, and return them safely to their families and homes."

Appealing to God, the prayer concludes: "Please plant brotherhood, peace and friendship in everyone's hearts. Remove jealousy and baseless hatred, and spread over us the shelter of Your peace; and we should soon merit to sing before You a new song."

According to informed sources and media reports, under heavy pressure from the United States, Israel and Hamas are close to a deal for a staged return of the remaining hostages, mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar. Israeli officials believe that 133 hostages remain in captivity of the 253 abducted on October 7.

We pray that most of them are still alive, but we know that some are not. Citing intelligence, the IDF confirmed the deaths of 34 of those still held by Hamas, while one person is still listed as "missing" since October 7.

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