- Michael Balaban
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia President and CEO
The release of hostages from Hamas captivity is a moment we prayed for and worked toward. It is a breakthrough that brings relief, gratitude and a measure of hope. Yet, even amid celebration, we must recognize the grief that remains — and acknowledge that our hearts are carrying both at once.
Just days ago, we learned that a young Nova music festival survivor, who had watched his girlfriend murdered before his eyes, died by suicide. In Tel Aviv, Simchat Torah in Hostages Square was marked by a split between dancing with the Torah and standing in silence — between joy and anguish, each response equally real.
This is not a contradiction. It is the human condition. Our tradition has always demanded that we hold paradox: such as breaking a glass at a wedding or reciting Kaddish even in moments of life. To deny pain would abandon those still suffering; to refuse joy would withhold our own healing. Strength means carrying both.
A recent essay in The Times of Israel by Alan P. Gross, himself a former hostage, offers wisdom for this moment. Writing to the newly freed, he reminds them that “walking out of captivity is only the beginning,” and that freedom itself can feel overwhelming. His words — “you may find yourself smiling one moment and crying the next” — speak to the disorientation of release and the long road of recovery. I urge you to read his full piece, “From one former hostage to 20 newly freed others." It is testimony not only for those in Israel, but also for all of us who carry the aftershocks of Oct. 7.
His meditation is important in itself, and even more so as we already see signs that the deal is under threat. Although the agreement required Hamas to return all Israeli hostages — both those alive and those who were killed — within 72 hours, Hamas has returned only a few of the remains. These are not numbers or conditions in a contract; they are people, beloved family members whose dignity is still being denied. This failure is a violation of the agreement. Nineteen slain hostages are still being held in Gaza, raising grave concerns that Hamas is not living up to its obligations. Additionally, the agreement called for Hamas to disarm, yet verified reports indicate that Hamas is carrying out mass executions of rival Palestinian factions. One must ask: where are the demonstrations demanding Hamas be held accountable for these crimes against humanity?
The safe return of hostages is a miracle. But peace will not come by default. It requires strategic clarity and moral courage. It requires us, here in Philadelphia, to act.
We must protect Jewish life from the continued rising antisemitism. We must speak with moral clarity against distortion and false equivalence. And we must deepen our investment in Jewish identity and continuity, so the next generation grows up proud and unafraid. There was hope that a ceasefire might bring relief from antisemitism. Instead, it has become clear that the war served as cover for those who seek not only Israel’s destruction as a nation, but also ours as a people.
To have hope and dream again is more than relief — it is the courage to imagine a tomorrow beyond pain. Dreaming again means moving from survival to vision, from grief to possibility. It means believing that families will gather in safety, that children will grow up in dignity, that Jewish life will not only endure but thrive.
This fragile moment demands that we stand together — with the people of Israel, with the hostages and their families, with our Jewish community here at home. Our task is to bridge division, to listen without surrendering conviction, and to build a future of peace and security. Together, we will ensure that Jewish life not only endures, but also flourishes — here as one, now and for generations to come.
Am Yisrael Chai. The people of Israel live.
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