Ahead of Passover, Jewish communities around the world have joined in a unified appeal for the release of all hostages held in Gaza. The heartfelt initiative was launched by the Jewish Agency, which since the outbreak of the war has been mobilizing world Jewry - together with its partners, the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Federations of North America, and Keren Hayesod - to support Israel's recovery and raise global awareness for the hostages' release. The campaign also aims to strengthen Jewish unity and bolster the resilience of Jewish communities amid rising waves of antisemitism.
The transcontinental letter has been signed by Jewish organizations from across Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia, and South Africa.
In the special message, the global Jewish signatories write: "We pray and hope that this upcoming Festival of Freedom will mark the beginning of the journey to liberty for our brothers and sisters who were kidnapped by the enemy. At our Seder tables, we will dedicate our thoughts and prayers to them, in the hope of seeing them return soon. We stand with and support their families, who are enduring an unimaginable ordeal."
The letter continues: "We stand united with all our brothers and sisters who survived captivity, offering them our heartfelt support and wishing them physical and emotional healing. We salute the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces standing at the forefront of our nation's defense. On this holiday eve, our hearts are with the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones."
Photo credit: Lior Deskal, The Jewish Agency.
Jewish communities also extend holiday blessings to the people of Israel and urge unity: "We wish the people of Israel a holiday of freedom and hope. May we mark this Passover with unity and fraternity, find common ground, and draw closer to one another in the spirit of the holiday."
Jewish Agency Chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog said: "On the eve of this Festival of Freedom, the Jewish Agency is leading a global Jewish call - our freedom, in the State of Israel and in Jewish communities around the world, cannot be complete while 59 of our sisters and brothers remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza. This transcends any political disagreement; it is our moral and national duty. Every Jew, in Israel and around the world, yearns for the moment they return home. We are committed to doing everything, now, to make that happen."
Jewish Agency Director General Yehuda Stone added: "In what may be one of the most challenging years in Israel's history, the Jewish Agency has made it a top priority to connect us all and harness the strength of the Jewish people to support Israel and safeguard the resilience of our global communities. There can be no healing until all our brothers and sisters held hostage in Gaza return home. With this letter, we remind ourselves that each and every one of us is part of a greater whole - and that everyone can and must be involved, contribute, and make a difference, to secure our shared freedom and hope in the spirit of the coming holiday."
