Group calls on Jews to join Thursday fast and dedicate it to the hostages

As the holiday of Purim approaches, preceded by Taanit Esther, the fast day that commemorates the three-day fast undertaken by the Persian Jewish community in the Book of Esther as they pleaded for divine salvation, a network of Israeli Jewish learning communities known as Mabua calls for a global day of fasting for all Jews, for the sake of the 134 hostages.

In the accompanying video, men and women talk about their intention to fast for those held in Gaza, a “fast of deep concern and worry for the fate of our brothers and sisters,” they say.

“I’m choosing to fast this year, not as a political act, and not as a religious act, but as a Jewish act,” state the video participants.

They encourage others to fast tomorrow from dawn to nightfall, to experience some of the hunger the captives are experiencing.