Dear Temple Isaiah Family,
Our hearts are broken as we received the news of the deaths of K’fir, Ariel, and Shiri Bibas, as their bodies were returned to their families and the State of Israel earlier today. Their return, though not in the way we had prayed for, marks a devastating moment in a journey of longing and uncertainty that lasted over 500 days.
After the events of October 7, we started with a list of names — with over 1,200 civilians slain on Simchat Torah and with over 250 innocent people taken hostage. Shortly after, Temple Isaiah posted the picture of the youngest hostage, K’fir Bibas on our bima, with the hopes that K’fir (then less than one year old), his brother Ariel (then four years old), their mother Shiri, and their father Yarden would be returned home soon. K’fir’s picture has told its own story to each member of the congregation, as people have looked to him during Shabbat, celebrations, funerals, holidays, religious school, and so much more. He has been a reminder of love, loss, fury, frustration, strength, support, and most of all, of hope.
Exodus also begins with a list of names of families who traveled and made their way to Egypt, their lives quickly diminished for a new and more troubling story to begin. We made our way quickly through Pharaoh’s calls for death to all Jewish-born babies, then a secondary call to kill male newborns, and cheered for Yocheved when she found a way to get her children out. We continuously weaved our way through our Passover story, dancing at the edge of the sea, wandering through the desert, quaking through life’s trials and uncertainties. It’s a story that we know well, and yet, even as we “relive” this story each year, it does not come close to the heart-wrenching reality and loss of the Bibas family.
Last week, we received God’s revelation at Sinai, as were brought into a covenant with fear and with joy. This week, as we enter Parashat Mishpatim, laws are given to us to help us understand how to keep this newly formed covenant with God and with the world — even when we’re completely lost in understanding how the world works. Unsure, yet faithfully, we, through the voices of our ancestors, state “Na’aseh v’nishmah!” — “We will do and [then] we will understand!” We will take action, make progress, strive towards doing the right thing, and then perhaps, we will have the opportunity to understand why. Our Torah makes it seem not effortless, but easy enough to endeavor.
This week’s modern-day revelation of the deaths of K’fir, Ariel, and Shiri challenge us to hold these words to heart. We have prayed and lobbied, argued and amplified our efforts, stepped forward into gatherings of minyanim, hundreds, and thousands. There is no rationale strong enough or holy enough that might bring forth understanding. The best we might offer is that “na’aseh v’nishmah…” — we will do, and we will listen.” We will stay tuned and not turn our faces from the seventy hostages who we still hope will return home healthy and whole. We will keep coming together, praying for the strength of Israel in making good choices and changes, and aiming to celebrate every captive’s release. K’fir’s photo will remain on the bima as a symbol of our covenant with our community — local and global — to remember that kol Yisrael arevim zeh b’zeh — that all of us are responsible for one another — that we cannot and should not look away, tune out, or harden our hearts against the celebratory return of Yarden Bibas or hopes of good news to come in the future.
So today, we mourn the loss of K’fir, Ariel, and Shiri Bibas. And tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow…we will continue to act, continue to listen, continue to find ways to come together until every person is back home where they belong.
Baruch Dayan HaEmet. Blessed be the True Judge.
Zichronam L’vracha, May their memories be for a blessing.
B’tikvah — in hope,
Rabbi Amanda K. Weiss
