Local religious leaders celebrated the release of the remaining hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which marked the initial phase of a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire plan.
Twenty Israeli hostages were released in Gaza Oct. 13 and turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross before returning home, according to USA Today. In exchange, Israel began releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal.
The peace plan comes after multiple failed attempts to halt the conflict that began when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages.
After the Oct. 7 attacks, Israel launched broad military operations in Gaza targeting Hamas. More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
“Two years ago, almost to the day, Israel suffered the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust,” said Rabbi Abraham Unger, executive director of New Synagogue Palm Beach. “But, the Jewish story, indeed the human story, is one of hope in the future while never forgetting the past. Today is a day that embodies exactly this twin feeling. Tears flow for those lost, but also in gratitude and thanks for this day and what may yet be on the horizon.”
“At last the long nightmare is over,” added Rabbi Michael Resnick of Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach. “We are all praying for the hostages and their families, and we are praying for peace now and in the future.”
Rabbi Moshe Scheiner of Palm Beach Synagogue said he and his congregation was overjoyed to see the hostages return home.
He noted the hostages were freed the day before Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that celebrates the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the immediate beginning of the next cycle.
Oct. 7, 2023, fell on Simchat Torah.
“Our hearts are overflowing with joy to see an end of the war, the return of the living hostages to their families and closure for those families who lost their loved ones,” Scheiner said. “It couldn’t come at a better time right before the last days of the holiday. We’re literally going into the most final joyous day of the holiday, Simchat Torah. Two year ago on Simchat Torah, we danced because we had faith that this day would come.”
Palm Beach Synagogue will host a Simchat Torah dance party at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 14 that will celebrate the holiday and the return of the hostages.
The free event includes services followed by dinner and dancing. Two former hostages who were abducted from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7 plan to attend, Scheiner said. A Lego Dance! Simchat Torah Kids Bash also is part of the festivities.
To reserve a spot, visit palmbeachsynagogue.org/simchat-torah.
“We are having the biggest celebration ever,” he said. “We have two Nova survivors with us to dance again.”
Chabad House Palm Beach also plans to celebrate the return of the hostages Oct. 14 with a “Dance for Israel” event on Simchat Torah. The free event begins at 7 p.m. at 361 South County Road. Registration is not required.
Rabbi Zalman Levitin said the holiday is especially joyful this year now that the hostages can participate after two years in captivity.
“Tonight, we begin the two-day holiday of Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, when we hug the Torah and dance with it,” he said. “Two years ago, on this same Hebrew calendar day, we tried to dance without them. Last year, we did our best to dance for them. This year, we’re dancing with them.”
President Donald Trump visited the Middle East Oct. 13 to welcome the freed hostages during a trip to Israel and Egypt. In remarks to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, he called the day one of “profound joy,” according to USA Today.
“This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” he said.
The United States, working with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, helped broker the agreement between Israel and Hamas. The deal followed President Trump’s Sept. 29 peace proposal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was finalized last week.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Town of Palm Beach religious leaders rejoice over release of Hamas hostages
Reporting by Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
