YIR: Jewish Atlanta Embraces Visiting Families of Israeli Hostages

As much as nearly 2,000 people can, the audience that filled the sanctuary at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue on Oct. 30 embraced the six Israeli men and women on the bimah.

The objects of this figurative hug represented not only their own family members being held hostage in Gaza, but also the families of Israelis among the estimated 240 people then being held captive.

Behind them were posters of the men, women, and children kidnapped on Oct. 7 during a modern-day pogrom in communities in Southern Israel and at a music festival in the nearby desert. On the hostages’ 24th night as captives, the visiting Israelis made no effort to conceal the toll of the ordeal, speaking in pained, emotional terms about their families.

Shani Segal and Yael Nidam came on behalf of Segal’s cousin and Nidam’s sister-in-law, Rimon Kirscht, who with her husband, Yogev Bokhstab, are among the hostages. “We always hear about Southern hospitality — and the brisket. I just want to say to everyone here, thank you, from all of us. You know the past three weeks have been horrible, but it feels like home, so thank you,” Segal said.

Earlier in the day, Hamas had released a video of three women held hostage, Kirscht among them. “This has been a true roller coaster. The moment we saw the video we felt, both of us, she’s alive. For three weeks, we did not know if she’s alive or dead,” Segal said.

[Note: Kirsht was released Nov. 28 as Israel exchanged jailed Palestinian prisoners for women and children among the hostages. Video of Kirsht staring down and saying something to one of her Hamas captors went viral on social media platforms. Nidam flew to Israel when her sister-in-law was released. At this writing, Bokhstab remains a hostage.]

Or Sella — whose family on Oct. 7 counted 12 members missing — said: “Sooner than later, I’ll come back to being a musician and a music producer. All of us and a lot of families in Israel . . . this is who we are, families of hostages.”

[Note: Two of the family members, a mother and daughter who live near Chicago and were visiting family at Kibbutz Nir Oz, were freed on Oct. 20. Ten others were at Kibbutz Be’eri. Six of them were visiting from elsewhere in Israel, taking advantage of the Sukkot holiday period. The bodies of three — two men and a woman — were identified nearly two weeks after the attack and funerals were held. Six of the seven others — women and children representing three generations — were freed Nov. 25. At this writing, one man remains hostage.]

Or’s cousin, Dafna Sella, carried a message from the sons of Eviatar and Lilach Kipnis, two of the three family members killed at Be’eri. Their funerals were “one of the darkest times of our family,” she said.

“Her sons asked us not to revenge on behalf of their name. In the darkest times, the darkest parts of our personalities sometimes get out,” Dafna said. “Our family sent a message of peace. I feel like I need to ask you on behalf of Lilach and Tali, don’t seek revenge.” Overcome by emotion, she was unable to continue.

Ilan and Sandy Feldman spoke on behalf of Sandy’s sister and brother-in-law, Aviva and Keith Siegel. “What happened to us, to all of us, is something unprecedented . . . it’s bigger than us. I feel strongly that our personal response to this situation needs to be bigger than us,” Ilan said.

[Note: Aviva Siegel was released Nov. 26. At this writing, Keith Siegel remains a hostage.]

On their way into the sanctuary draped with Israeli flags, the audience passed through a room where an elongated, U-shaped Shabbat table had been set up, with a separate children’s table in the middle. On the back of each chair was the photograph of a missing Israeli.

Before the hostage family members spoke, Israel’s Consul General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon told those present in-person and watching online that the brutality of the Hamas attacks “has shaken us to our core.”

“To those who are now choosing silence in the face of the atrocities committed against our people, your silence is shameful. There can be no forgiveness or your disgraceful silence over the burning alive of our children. History will judge you,” Sultan-Dadon said.

The conversation with the hostage families was moderated by Dov Wilker, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, who expressed his admiration for the men and women sitting to his left.

“The strength that you all have to be here and to share the story is absolutely incredible,” Wilker said. “We have to share their stories. We have a responsibility. We are the ones who are able to amplify that message. We are the ones who own that responsibility.”

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