Let the Liars Lie

Jews all over the world think about this image, this moment, every day since Oct 7th.

We think about Shiri and her two boys when we wake up in the morning.

When we drop off our kids at school.

When we are cooking in our kitchens,

or driving to work.

We see them in the woman and her children with red hair at the supermarket, the doctor's office, walking in the mall.

We have moments when we can't breathe, imagining what it would have been like to have been Shiri at that moment, in all the moments since, how Kfir and Ariel could have been sustained in captivity.

Who was watching them? Were they together?

Who was loving them?

We looked for red-headed boys in every picture that came out of G*za.

We lost 500 nights waiting for the three of them to come home.

Their Abba came home first, and I know that none of us can imagine his suffering. Now, and all those months held captive.

Hamas lies.

I don't know if they are lying this time.

But they forced Daniella Gilboa to "fake" her own death to terrorize her parents- so I don't believe a word they say until we see it with our own eyes.

I think we should wait.

One more day.

Until then, here is a prayer I wrote to bring them home alive and well.

We have witnessed miracles, let's ask for one more.

*****

G-d,

You have taught us to be compassionate,

to love each other.

You have taught us that a mother and her children

are to be cherished, a sacred bond.

We beseech you one last time,

to bring forth the angels and set this judgment once and for all.

We bring forward the mother who sheltered her sons from monsters,

The little boys with red hair nestled in her arms,

We beg that you bring them home,

alive and well.

Returned to the arms of their father,

to the embrace of their family,

to their people.

Let the liars lie- and let a better truth come home.