Jewish children across the globe joined together this Chanukah to raise awareness of the Israeli hostages being held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza since the Hamas-led massacred in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Children in Latin America, Europe and Asia learned about the hostages’ plight and lit Chanukah candles arranged in the shape of the yellow ribbon that has come to symbolize the captives.
The initiative was spearheaded by schools supported by the Yael Foundation, a philanthropic organization working in 35 countries and impacting 13,000 Jewish students.
“The suffering of the hostages and their families must be acknowledged and addressed worldwide, especially within the Jewish community. Chanukah, a time deeply rooted in Jewish solidarity, is the perfect occasion to bring attention to this tragic situation,” said Chaya Yosovich, CEO of the Yael Foundation.
“As an organization that partners with schools globally, we aim to instill the Jewish value of pidyon shvuyim, the imperative to act for the release of fellow Jews who are captured. This is our way of contributing to one of the most urgent Jewish challenges of our time,” she added.
‘Their hearts remain with those suffering in captivity’
In Odesa, Ukraine, students at the Tikva Children’s Home—an orphanage and school supported by the Yael Foundation—created a heartfelt video. The children, many of whom are refugees from the ongoing war in Ukraine, sang the iconic Hebrew song “HaBayta” (“Back Home”), and formed a human yellow ribbon while waving Israeli flags and holding photos of the hostages.
“It is more important than ever to remember the Israeli hostages held by Hamas,” said Refael Kruskal, CEO of the Tikva Children’s Home. “Our students have suffered greatly because of the war in Ukraine, but their hearts remain with those suffering in captivity in Gaza. Our greatest prayer is for their safe return, and we hold this hope close during this Chanukah season.”
Rabbi Shmuel Kot of the Jewish Education Center in Tallinn, Estonia, said: “We are grateful to the Yael Foundation for the wonderful opportunity to participate in these meaningful Chanukah campaigns, highlighting both Jewish identity and solidarity with the hostages.”
Founded in 2020 by Uri and Yael Poliavich, the foundation is guided by the belief that every Jewish child, no matter where they live, deserves access to high-quality Jewish and general education.
