Chicago community prays amid reports that Hamas may release non-Israeli hostages
CHICAGO - There are reports that Hamas could release non-Israeli hostages.
On Monday, Irina Troychanskaya and Serge Bondar were two of the hundreds who have been attending prayer vigils to pray for Jews like Judith and Natalie Raanan – who are in the hands of Hamas terrorists.
"I truly hope that they can get the hostages back. I’ve been hearing and seeing different things, so I don’t know what's true," said Troychanskaya.
"I would be ecstatic; I want the hostages to be free by force, actually. By good people, not to exchange for $6 billion dollars with our enemies," said Bondar.
They don’t know the kidnapped mother and daughter from Evanston, but know that they will be strong enough to survive because they are Jewish.
"We’re heartbroken; the pain is tremendous, and it doesn’t just go away when a few days go by," said Rabbi Sholom Notik, Chabad of Riverwoods.
Notik says the community can feel small now, but just as the Jewish moon shrinks, it also comes back bigger and brighter. His message was to use prayer as fuel.
The crowd Monday night recited prayers for the hostages, the wounded, the dead, and the soldiers.
A father of a Chicago man who is fighting for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) says the Israeli army is the one between them and Hamas, and luckily, the soldiers are keen to fight.
"I could drag him away from the front right now, and he would break his chain to go to the front. His fellow soldiers would do the same," said the father.
Organizers clarified the event was not a political gathering and that there would be no room for political statements. The plan is to keep future vigils the same.
Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, synagogues in the Chicagoland area are taking action to express their solidarity and support for Israel. As the conflict enters its tenth day, an event titled "Uniting for Israel" is scheduled to take place at the Westin North Shore hotel.
Organized by Synagogue FREE of the North Suburbs, the event aims to provide an opportunity for individuals to come together in prayer, seek inspiration, express support for Israeli soldiers, and convey a message of Jewish strength, pride, and resilience.
Reports from Gaza, where much of the fighting has occurred, have deeply affected the local Jewish community. Synagogue FREE emphasizes the urgency of taking action following what they describe as the brutal and tragic loss of lives, including men, women, and children who have suffered violence and tragedy in their homes and on the streets of Israel.
The event will feature a video presentation from an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) paratrooper. This soldier and his unit were among the first responders in pushing back against Hamas.
"His communication when he went out, his feelings, we also have family members speaking. He's a member of this community, and he iss a very unique, elite soldier in all of this, so that's very meaningful to all of us," said Rabbi Sholom Notik, Chabad of Riverwoods.
Organizers anticipate a significant turnout for the event and have emphasized the presence of security measures to ensure a safe environment.