Idan Alexander's uncle: How can we tell of freedom this Passover?

In a moving event held today (Tuesday) at the Givat Shmuel City Hall plaza, hundreds of city residents gathered for singing and prayer for the release of the hostages, under the heading "I seek my brothers - having a Seder night."

In the center of the plaza, a set Seder table was placed, with pictures of the 59 hostages on its chairs. The event, produced in collaboration with the Hostages Families Headquarters, was held in the presence of Mayor Yossi Brodny, and with the participation of hostages' families, rabbis, public figures, and city residents. Among the speakers were Bar Godard, daughter of the fallen hostage Meni Godard; Ditza Or, mother of hostage Avinatan Or; Levi Ben Baruch, uncle of hostage Idan Alexander; and his grandfather Baruch Ben Baruch. Important rabbis also participated, including Brigadier General (Res.) Rabbi Israel Weiss, former IDF Chief Rabbi, and Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman, Associate President of the World Mizrachi Movement.

Mayor Yossi Brodny said in his remarks: "This evening we stand together, with one heart, and pray for the swift return of all our hostages. Our freedom is not complete without them. We must do everything to bring them all home. Our sages said: 'There is no greater commandment than redeeming captives,' and this commandment is one of the most important foundations in Judaism. Just as our people have acted throughout the generations to redeem captives, so must we act now. Dear families, the city of Givat Shmuel stands behind you every day, every hour, and every holiday. Until everyone returns - some to their families and some to eternal rest."

"How long will we continue to be four siblings asking how it's possible that they are still in Gaza?"

Bar Godard, whose father Meni Godard was murdered on October 7 and whose body is being held in Gaza: "Passover for me is first and foremost mom and dad. Cooking, cleaning, a large festive table, a white tablecloth, gifts, the smell of renewal in the air. But where are all these this year? Where is my mother who would ensure everything is perfect? Where is my father who would sit with a huge smile throughout the evening, looking proudly and contentedly at the tribe he built? Where is dad really? How much longer will we fight for his return? How long will we continue to be four siblings asking again and again - how is it possible they are still in Gaza? How is it possible that life goes on? How is it possible that people have returned to routine?"

Ditza Or, mother of hostage Avinatan Or, said: "The true meaning of Passover is not just eating matzah, singing, and making kiddush. The true meaning is understanding that even today, we are part of the struggle for world freedom. The Haggadah invites us not only to feel the bondage and exodus from Egypt but also to act for it. Each of us can take upon ourselves a good deed for the hostages. Each of us can brighten faces, act with kindness, light the way with a smile, with grace, generosity, and patience."

Levi Ben Baruch, uncle of hostage Idan Alexander: "The Passover holiday, the second festival of freedom, is approaching, but there is no true freedom here. How can we sit around the holiday table and tell the story of the exodus from Egypt when Idan and 58 other hostages are still in the terrible captivity in Gaza... I think about Idan who is in the Hamas tunnels with half a dry pita in his hand saying: 'This is the bread of affliction' and praying to God and crying out 'Father in heaven, get me out of here, redeem us again,' and Idan's voice is not heard from the Hamas tunnels, and the cry to the Creator of the world is said in a whisper because they are not allowed to cry out, not allowed to cry, not allowed to embrace. So with your permission, we will now cry out to the Creator of the world until the pillars shake, and as it is written in the Passover Haggadah: 'And we cried out to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.'"