Under the Sukkah,we celebrate life

Click the above graphic to scroll through pictures of the hostages reuniting with their families for the first time in two years.

Today we witnessed a raw, historic, and pivotal moment — one the Jewish People will remember for generations. After 738 days in captivity, the living hostages in Gaza are finally home. It is no coincidence that 7 + 3 + 8 = 18 – Chai. In that number lies a quiet reminder that even after unbearable pain, life endures.

It's been an emotional day as we watch the videos of fathers and mothers embracing their children, siblings and friends holding onto one another for the first time in two years, and the sheer relief of knowing that their cruel and horrendous ordeal is finally over.

We do not pretend that this moment erases the trauma or the loss. The road ahead is steep. Hamas has already violated the ceasefire several times, refuses to confirm if and when it will release the remaining bodies of hostages, and reports suggest that Hamas terrorists are murdering Palestinians who dare to oppose them.

Yes, this chapter of the war has ended but the struggle for peace, truth, and justice continues.

Amid the flurry of statements and posts, one message stood out to me: Germany was denazified after WWII, and Japan’s constitution was rewritten by the Americans. The only way to achieve lasting peace is to take over the educational system of the Palestinians.

And I thought to myself — how Jewish of us. Even in our pain, here we are exploring ways to find peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, much of the anti-Israel crowd remains consumed with hate. Yes, the ones who were chanting “ceasefire now” seem desperate to keep the conflict alive so their relevance does not fade. Once again, those who claim to “stand with Palestinians” reveal their true intent: not to build peace, but to destroy Israel.

But theirs has always been a lost cause. Because the Jewish People – tested, wounded, unbreakable – can never be defeated.