Thank you for being part of this prayer network for the hostages still held in Gaza.
We unite in prayer at this particularly tense moment, as a negotiated deal for the return of the hostages seems closer than ever (at time of writing) — 33 are expected to be released in the first phase of the deal currently being negotiated between Israel and Hamas.
In this Times of Israel article, a medical professional who has treated previous freed hostages reminds us of the complex health issues and mental states that the current hostages are likely to be facing on their return. Our prayers have tended to focus on their return as the end goal, however ongoing prayerful accompaniment would also be a vital gift of support as freed hostages adjust to their lives back home.
The complexities for those abducted and for their families, and for Jewish and Israeli communities, are indeed challenging. But prayer is prayer, and we trust in its power for good, for consolation and for healing.
In these tense days filled with both hope and anxiety, as we await news that a deal has been reached and that the release of the hostages has begun, I remember the mantra of Rachel Golberg-Polin and say it for each hostage still held in Gaza: “We love you. Stay strong. Survive.”