Rabbi Daniel Brenner and Local Jewish Community React to Hostage Release
Tracy Lehr
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Some members of the Jewish community watched the celebration in Israel until 1 a.m. at Congregation B’nai B’rith in Santa Barbara County.
Thanks to Rabbi Belle Michael, who is from Israel, they have been in touch with the families of hostages.
Many worried something might delay the release overnight.
They broke out in applause a number of times as they learned the 20 survivors held captive for 2 years were coming home and being reunited with their families.
Senior Rabbi Daniel Brenner said they have been waiting for this special moment.
“This has been such a journey – we don’t lose hope, we don’t give up, we cherish life and we celebrate that they are with us again,” said Brenner. “We don’t want to return to war and the hope is that this continues on and that these intractable parties come less intractable, that there is future that is positive for Israelis and positive for Palestinians and positive for everyone and that is the real hope here.”
Brenner also talked about the meaning of peace.
“In our tradition the opposite of war is not peace, the opposite of war is not fighting. Peace is something you have to work for, peace takes much more than not fighting and when we pray for peace we are not just praying for an end to war we are praying for a beautiful and enriched future.”
Now he said is the time for healing and privacy for those families.
“These are people who didn’t ask for fame but unfortunately got it because of their situation.”
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