Religious-nationalist public rally calling to promote an agreement that will see the release of all hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at the First Train station in Jerusalem. December 22, 2024. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
Saturday evening, during Motzei Shabbat [la période qui suit le coucher du soleil le samedi soir]hundreds of people gathered at Jerusalem's First Station for the rally Hinecalling for the release of the hostages.
Many people present wore twitch or head covering, and the evening was punctuated with prayers and singing, alongside calls for political action.
Despite Religious Zionism political party leader Bezalel Smotrich's opposition to a deal to release the hostages, many party supporters in attendance expressed support for such a deal, calling it a Zionist cause.
Rabbi Mordechai Vardi of Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc said: “We are living in a historic time, a time of national trauma that must be transformed into healing, but first, the hostages must be taken home. We need a deal that will bring everyone home.”
Moshe Shapira, father of Aner Shapira, killed by Hamas terrorists while protected friends on October 7, 2023, declared: “This is a Zionist choice. The voices of our brothers and sisters challenge us.”
Mr. Shapira referred to the Torah reading from the previous week Vayeshevwhich tells how Joseph was sold into captivity by his brothers.
They saw it from afar,” we can read in the weekly reading. This distance caused an alienation between Joseph and his brothers,” explains Shapira.
“A brother stood up, Reuben, and tried to save Joseph’s fate,” Mr. Shapira continued. “There are times in the life of a person or a nation when destiny must change.”
“Fourteen months ago, I gave the eulogy for my son Aner, my firstborn,” Mr. Shapira said. “Aner refused to give up the lives of those in the bomb shelter to the murderers and changed this moment. Today, society and government have the opportunity to make this a year of destiny. The decision to reach a comprehensive agreement for the return of all the kidnapped is a moral, Zionist, Jewish and religious decision. The voices of our brothers and sisters call to us. Now is the time to listen, now is the time to act. »
John Goldberg-Polin, Hersch's father, who was recently killed in Gaza shortly before Yahya Sinwar's death, also made reference to the Torah cycle.
'This important gathering takes place as we move on from the game'Vayeshev'to the party'Miketz', a transition full of symbolism,” Mr. Goldberg-Polin said. 'The part'Vayeshev' ends with Joseph's despair, in a sad verse which says: 'The butler did not remember Joseph and forgot him.' These words are among the saddest ever. »
The next part, Miketzrecounts the reconciliation and restoration between Joseph and his brothers in Egypt, after Joseph was taken to Egypt as a slave and imprisoned there.
“However, from 'Miketz,' Joseph became the most influential person in the world,” Ms. Goldberg-Polin said. “Sometimes the transition from depths to freedom, even joy, can happen as we move from one week to the next, from one portion to the next. Tonight, 100 of our brothers live in the depths of despair. Our blessing is that by the time we reach Shabbat Miketz, all the brothers will be redeemed, as was the case with Joseph.”
Ms Goldberg-Polin also asked those present to speak to their political representatives and encourage them to accept a deal.
“To those who support the deal, there is a gap between you and the political leaders who represent you,” he said. “Be with your leaders, let them know you support the deal. We are strong enough to close the deal.”
Orthodox Jewish musician Aharon Razel performed during the evening, leading the crowd in singing his song “My Brethren,” based on the text of Genesis 37:16, “I seek my brethren, where are they in grazing? »
Niva Vankrat, mother of hostage Omar, pleaded with the crowd: “My brothers and sisters, I am asking for my son. My Omar, my firstborn, it is completely natural to claim him.”
“We must not abandon them, because then we would be a fragmented society. We must not sacrifice lives,” she insisted. “Come out, as you did today in the cold of Jerusalem, to support the Israeli government and bring our brothers home. I ask for my son, alive! Alive, I ask! Because he is alive! We must not leave behind the soldiers and young men, nor those who are no longer with us.”
After a malfunction led to a brief period of darkness in the room, Mr Vankrat said: “Liam Or, who was with Omar in captivity, said that one of the hardest things they had to do to face was the darkness. They were in tunnels, in the darkness of Egypt, so much so that they had to touch their own eyelids to make sure their eyes were open.”
Religious Zionist leader Bezalel Smotrich opposed the release of the hostages, saying it “does not serve the goals and interests of the State of Israel in the war – nor does it serve the return of the kidnapped, because in the end, it is a partial liberation. »
Although several press reports have suggested that an agreement may be close, several Israeli officials have recently said that there are still gaps in the positions, including issues such as the continued IDF presence in Gaza during the ceasefire. -the fire and Hamas' demand that the ceasefire be permanent.
