Relief, joy and heartbreak were felt throughout the Tenafly, N.J., community on May 12 as news broke that hometown resident Edan Alexander, 21, had been released after 583 harrowing days in captivity at the hands of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
While the community celebrated Alexander’s return, with hundreds of people watching it live on a giant screen set up in town, the moment was bittersweet as dozens of hostages remained captive.
“Our community never stopped calling for the release of Edan and all the hostages,” said Joan and Bob Oppenheimer, co-presidents of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Northern New Jersey board. “We are overwhelmed with joy to hear that he’s back with his family. However, we need all the hostages home now. This is nonnegotiable.”
Rachel Kahn, Jewish National Fund-USA’s Northern New Jersey director, echoed the sentiment, saying that “while much of the world may have forgotten about Edan and the hostages, we didn’t. Nor did we ever stop caring for the brave Israeli communities that live in the shadow of the Gaza border. We were there for them yesterday, we’re here for them today, and we’ll continue to be there for them tomorrow.”
In a powerful reminder of the human toll still being exacted, dozens of families of hostages, along with several former captives, will visit the tristate region during the week of May 19. Their mission is to raise awareness, share their stories and demand the release of loved ones.
As part of the visit, several survivors will exhibit their original artworks at JNF House in New York. The creative pieces were made during art therapy sessions that help the former hostages heal from the trauma they experienced.
Jewish National Fund-USA has been vocal in calling for the release of the hostages through its philanthropic support of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
To stand with families and support JNF-USA’s ongoing efforts to rebuild and rejuvenate Israel’s north and south, visit: jnf.org/supportisrael.
