Over these past few days, many of us are once again experiencing a range of emotions that has become painfully familiar.

I am heartbroken over the murders of Yaron Lischinsky (z"l) and Sarah Lynn Milgrim (z"l) outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. They were so young and ready to start their lives together.

I also feel tremendous anger. How devastating that they were killed attending an American Jewish Committee (AJC) event with the theme, “Turning Pain into Purpose.” These two young people were pursuers of peace attending a bridge-building event, and their lives were cut short by an act of violent, antisemitic, anti-Zionist hatred.

With antisemitism on the rise and demonization of Israel normalized, we know that this could have been any one of us. This can happen anywhere. Which is why we need to keep raising our voices, standing up, and demanding that the hate and the violence stop.

We do this through CJP’s Communal Security Initiative and Center for Combating Antisemitism, alongside our partners, like the AJC, which was directly affected by this terror. We will continue to work toward making our Jewish spaces secure and welcoming so joyful Jewish life can flourish, even in dark times.

This week, our community experienced some of that joy as we welcomed Omer Shem Tov and his parents Shelly and Malki to Boston. After being held captive for 505 days — much of it in literal darkness — he was released on February 22, 2025. It was a great honor to hear their story of hope and resilience as they continue raising awareness of the 58 hostages still held in captivity.

In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, Shelly and Malki were co-founders of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum — the leading organization supporting families while also advocating around the world for the release of the hostages.

CJP, and therefore our Greater Boston Jewish community, is the Forum’s largest funder in the world and, whether in Israel or on Zoom, we have sat with Omer’s parents many times. Each time, Malki would say, “When Omer comes home, we will bring him to Boston.”

When I saw Omer step off the plane at Logan, I honestly could not believe my eyes. I had the distinct feeling that we were in the presence of someone who was living history, and whose very being bears witness to the courage, resilience, strength, and spirit of the Jewish People and all of humanity. Omer was greeted by students from our local Jewish day schools singing and celebrating his arrival, and it felt like we were watching a living miracle.

Throughout the week, I saw the warm embrace and welcome that Omer and his parents received from our Boston community. Whether with our day school students, throwing out the first pitch at the Red Sox game on Monday night, or at small gatherings, the Shem Tovs brought a message of inspiration and hope. It was difficult to hear Omer’s story and imagine the living hell he went through, but I also heard him turn to the students and address them directly:

I want to say something to the children. Stand tall. Be proud. Know who you are. Know where you come from. You are part of a beautiful People with an amazing story. You are the next generation who will write the next chapters of that story.

Omer reminded us why we do what we do every day.

We stand with our Israeli brothers and sisters and work to bring every hostage home. We fight antisemitism here at home and around the world. And we do this so our community can live proud, joyful Jewish lives and so our next generation will connect to Judaism and the Jewish story. They are the future leaders of the Jewish People.

Yaron and Sarah were this next generation of leaders. We mourn together with Yaron’s and Sarah’s loved ones, with the Washington, D.C. community, with our friends at the AJC, and the Israeli Consulate. May their memories be a blessing.

We must also heed Omer’s words and actions.

We will be vigilant, but we will not hide. We will grieve, but we will not despair. We will walk proud and tall as Jews, knowing that we are part of a strong, resilient, beautiful People.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom, a Shabbat of peace.