Since October 7, the Jewish people have united time and time again in heartbreak. Today we again mourn lives cruelly taken. We grieve with the Bibas and Lifshitz families as they endure the confirmation of the loss of Oded, Kfir, and Ariel. We are also outraged that the fate of Shiri Bibas remains unresolved, cruelly prolonging the anguish of the Bibas family.
For 503 days, we’ve fought for the return of these hostages, holding on to the immense hope that they would come back alive. In that time, hostages that, for some, were community members, but that many of us never knew, became like family in our hearts. Now, we mourn their murder, sharing in their sorrow. And we call for the immediate return of Shiri Bibas.
In this moment, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting one another, drawing comfort from the words of Psalms:
“God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” (Ps. 147:3)
Even as we grieve, we renew our call to bring each and every every remaining hostage home. Sixty-four of our own are still held in dire conditions in Gaza, and we will not rest until every single one comes home.
We invite you to honor the memories of Kfir, Ariel, and Oded:
- Recite El Maleh, the prayer for the departed
- Masorti Prayer for the Return of Slain Hostages
- Pray for the safe return of those still held captive
- Join the Conservative/Masorti community in reciting a daily Psalm for the safe return of the hostages
May the memories of Kfir, Ariel, and Oded be a blessing, and may their families be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
המקום ינחם אותם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים