Martin H. van den Bergh

While there are great efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal, we continue to lose soldiers on the battlefield and in terrorist attacks. For us in Israel and the Jewish People the loss of every soldier is deeply felt not only by his or her family, but by all of Israel. And we all feel the pain suffered by families and friends of the fallen. This was demonstrated last week here in Beit Shemesh when Staff Sergeant Kanso Kassa fell in battle. And like all parts of Israel when one of our sons or daughters fall in battle, we all came out waving our flags to show our support for Kanso’s family as they made their way to his funeral. This shows that Israel has a caring heart and that we all care for each other, whether Jew or non-Jew. This also demonstrates that Israel cherishes life and makes every effort to save and sanctify life.

This Jewish quality of caring for one another was already demonstrated by Moses and showed that he was eminently qualified to lead the Jewish People. The Torah relates that when he grew up after having been cared for by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses went out to and saw the suffering of the Israelites: “And it came to pass in those days, when Moshe was grown, that he went out to his brothers, and looked on their burdens: and he noticed an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brothers. (Shemot 2.11) The Midrash Midrash explains: “he set his eyes and mind to share in their distress.” (Exodus Rabbah 1:27)  

Our care continues to this day for our brother and sisters, as well as for other peoples. While we are all on tenterhooks as to whether there will be a ceasefire, we all share our concerns for our hostages. The possible ceasefire agreement is being delayed by Hamas, and which shows that they continue to have no regard for the sanctity of life. We, on the other hand continue to pray that the agreement will bring about the release of all our hostages and the return of security for all of Israel.