From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Over 100 US rabbis call on PM to ink hostage deal to allow Jewish people to heal
A group of more than 100 US rabbis urges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a hostage deal, stating that returning the hostages is key to healing the Jewish people.
“We urgently call upon the Israeli Prime Minister and all relevant parties to finalize the deal on the table — outlined by President [Joe] Biden and endorsed by Qatar, Egypt, and the UN Security Council — and to bring much-needed relief to those suffering,” the statement reads.
“We can’t start healing as the Jewish people in Israel and the global diaspora until our brothers and sisters are home. We are compelled by the mitzvah of Pidyon Shevuyim to take decisive action and ensure the safe return of all 115 hostages,” the rabbis add.
According to a statement by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, rabbis who signed onto the statement include Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi of Central Synagogue; Rabbi Rachel Timoner, senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim; Rabbi Bini Krauss, head of school at SAR Academy; Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky, senior rabbi at B’nai David- Judea; Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, rabbi of Ansche Chesed; Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, rabbi of Kehillat Jeshurun, among others.
