Rabbi Howard Morrison

Kfir Bibas turns two years old today on Shabbat January 18th. He spent his first birthday a year ago today in the dungeons of hell with his older brother, Ariel, now 5 years old, and their parents Shiri and Yarden. With a hostage deal now set in which 33 Israelis are to be released, presumably 23 alive and 10 deceased, we think and pray for all the hostages, as we commemorate the birthday of the youngest hostage today. 

While Kfir and Ariel are the youngest of the hostages, and spending their childhoods in evil surroundings, they are not the first to do so. Today, we begin to read the book of Shmot-Exodus. As a new wicked Pharaoh legislates the genocide of new born Israelite males, a mother places her baby boy in a basket of reeds and sends him down the Nile with the older sister observing his safety from a distance. Soon after, the daughter of Pharaoh retrieves the baby boy. When she had opened to basket, she saw that it was a child, a boy crying. The Hebrew word for child is YELED. The Hebrew word for boy is NAAR. Why the difference in terminology? Rashi, quoting the Midrash, says "Kolo K'Naar - His voice was that of an older boy." A baby boy was found in a basket, with the voice of an older boy crying. Little Moses cried with the perspective of a more mature child, perhaps already being aware of his foreign surroundings. Can we not say the same for the Bibas boys and all the hostages?

Soon after in the Biblical text, we read in verse 10, "Vayigdal Ha'Yeled - When the child grew up," followed in verse 11, "Vayigdal Moshe - When Moses had grown up." The commentary found in the Etz Hayim Chumash states: "The phrase 'he grew up' occurs twice, once referring to physical maturity, the second time to a sense of responsibility, going out to join his kinsmen and take responsibility for the wrongs of society." Even while growing up amongst evil, Moses knew his true identity. As a result, when he sees an Egyptian beating on a Hebrew, Moses responds. When he sees two Israelites quarreling, Moses responds. When he later sees herdsmen attacking the daughters of Yitro, all being non-Israelite, Moses responds. Thus, the birth and early development of our leader, Moses.

We hope and pray that all the hostages, especially the young ones, know who they really are as Jews, as Israelis; that they will be able to physically, emotionally, and spiritually come back to their people, their faith, and their tradition. 

Two weeks ago, I spoke about the Mitzvah of Pidyon Shevuyim, the redeeming of hostages and captives. I spoke about the possible limitations of doing so in Jewish law. I noted that none of the examples of antiquity or the Middle Ages addressed a situation where a sovereign Jewish nation in its homeland was targeted as a whole. I mentioned that many religious halakhic authorities have agreed that in the complexities of today, it is for the elected Israeli government to make the critical decision of redeeming hostages while weighing the short and long term consequences for Israel's safety and security. As a supportive, Zionist, Diaspora congregation, it is for us to support 100% the stance taken by Israel now and moving forward.

May we live to see soon the release of all the hostages, and may there never ever be hostages again in our people's future!

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison