Prayers for the Released Hostages

Prayers for the Released Hostages

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions watching some of the hostages come home. Who will really be coming home? What condition will they be in? And our hearts break for the families and friends of hostages who do not know the conditions of their loved ones. We mourn with those who know that their relatives have been killed, and either they have already been buried, or are waiting for Hamas to return the bodies. There is pain and sorrow all over Israel and Gaza. We pray that everyone can return to their homes and live in safety and security. 

Below are two prayers recently written to mark this monumental occasion of the return of some of the hostages. We continue to pray for the return of all the hostages. We must not stop calling for the release of the hostages, until everyone is safely home. 

Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org

A Prayer of Gratitude for the Return of Israeli Hostages
by Rabbi Naomi Levy

Today is a day of gratitude for every soul freed from captivity.
Children, mothers and elders are coming home!
The long-awaited hour of reunion is here.
God, heal the hearts of children
Who have lived through horrors no child should ever endure.
Some children have no parents’ arms to run to,
Let all of Israel embrace them with an eternal love.

We give thanks for every hostage released today,
For joyous reunions filled with tears of thanksgiving.
We pray that love will mend the brokenness,
That fear will soon give way to faith in tomorrow.
But for the hostages this hope-filled day of homecoming
Will also be heartbreaking,
A time of mourning for murdered loved ones.
Comfort them, God, be their light in these dark days,
Be their strength, be their shelter, their hope
For new life that lies ahead.

On this blessed day of gratitude
Our hearts refuse to rejoice
Until every soul heartlessly held by Hamas,
Every boy and girl,
Every woman and man
Has been released.
God, help us bring them home.

Until that day, watch over them, God.
Fill them with courage, perseverance,
Strength and hope
For the day of freedom that is coming.
May that day come soon.

Baruch Ata Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam
Matir Assurim.
Blessed are You, O God,
Who frees the captives,
Amen.

Baruch Matir Asurim
Prayer written by Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger
Rabbi of Kfar Vradim, Romi Gonen family congregation
Adapted and formatted by Rabbi Shalom Kantor

Blessed are You, who has freed the captive.

May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors, that

You protect, guard, strengthen, uplift, comfort, and give strength to:
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________

Our cherished, redeemed captives who have returned to their families’ embrace after nights and days of unknowable suffering.

Please, God, heal them, embrace them and their loved ones with Your loving-kindness, and give them the strength for the long road back to wholeness in body and soul.

Healer of the broken-hearted, bind up their suffering, heal their wounds, and enable them to rise to the morrow with renewed strength and faith in the goodness of humanity and the beauty of life.

As it is written, “And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with song”

May we soon see the return of ALL our brothers and sisters who remain in captivity so we can see the fulfilment of Your promise:

“Once again will be heard in this place …the sound of joy and happi-ness, the voice of bridegroom and bride”

And let us say – Amen