Now, for the first time in 12 years, there are no Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. On Monday, Israel found the body of the final slain hostage, Ran Gvili (z”l). Gvili, a fighter in a combat unit of the Israel Police, went out to fight on the morning of October 7. He had a broken shoulder and was officially on medical leave from service. When he heard about the Hamas infiltration he left his home for the area of Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel. There he fought alongside other Israeli fighters and was seriously wounded in his arm and leg. He applied a tourniquet to himself and continued fighting. His body was abducted later that day and taken into the Gaza Strip.

After 843 days, 12 hours, and 6 minutes, he was brought home. They found his body in the same uniform he wore on October 7 buried in a Gaza City cemetery. When Ran's recovery was announced, 10 million Israelis breathed a collective sigh of relief. For them, the October 7 war had finally ended.

As Nadav Eyal wrote, “There is no goal — now or ever — that has commanded broader consensus in Israel, in this war or in any the country has fought, than bringing the hostages home.” We honor those who were taken, those who did not return, and those who waited with unbearable courage. Everyone is home.

Thank you to Congregation Beth Israel, the Oseran Family Lecture, and the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education for bringing Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt to speak on Tuesday night to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Amb. Lipstadt is a professor at Emory University and was the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism under President Biden.

Eric Ward, former Executive Director of the Western States Center, opened the program in a powerful way:

"I am a black, non-Jewish man, but I am here because antisemitism is real. It is not a metaphor, nor a talking point. It is not something to be explained away as sheer politics or dismissed as just rhetoric. Antisemitism is a living adaptive nature. It mutates. It recruits. It hides behind intellectual costumes. It moves through conspiracies, scapegoating, the seduction of common sense, and when it finds daylight, it never stops with the Jews. It asks for our attention. It asks for clarity. It asks for the courage to defend truth when the truth is under assault."

Amb. Lipstadt gave an excellent talk and explained antisemitism as a multi-tiered approach:

• Threat to Jews, Jewish institutions, community, and those associated with the Jewish community.
• Threat to democracy and the rule of law. Think of people who share conspiracy myths about Jews "controlling the ...,” etc..
• Threat to international security and stability. China, for example, “stirred the pot” on social media following October 7, 2023, to create disharmony.

To counter these threats, we must demand that our leaders take antisemitism seriously. Will they address those who espouse antisemitic views? Will they tolerate antisemitism in our schools? We must continue to speak out and have our concerns heard and responded to.

On the topic of Israel and antisemitism, Amb. Lipstadt was clear that legitimate criticism of the State of Israel is appropriate and not antisemitic. She even joked it was the “national sport of Israel.” However, when people are virulent and extreme in questioning Israel’s right to exist, she asked “What other country in the world has to defend its right to exist? England? Canada? Australia? And with 50% of world Jewry living in Israel, questioning or insisting that Israel should not exist becomes a threat to half the world’s Jewish population."

Here is an Op-Ed written by Amb. Lipstadt and Noa Tishby from earlier this week that may be of interest.

Last May, while on a mission to Israel, our group had the opportunity to meet David Shlachter. David, who grew up in Portland, was on sabbatical with his family living in Israel. He shared with us this incredible project he was finishing (all done during the war) -- a book called Hinenu: Israel at Ten Million.

David was in town Wednesday night for his book launch. He shared that when Israel's population hit 10 million people, he sought to find and interview 100 individuals to capture the essence of their first-person stories along with photograph portraits of each. What is amazing is that the book and stories "reflect the full demographic picture mosaic -- Jews and Arabs, religious and secular, sabras and immigrants, elders and children -- mirroring exactly the latest census data." This includes percentage by age, gender, where people were born, geographic region of residence, and religious/ethnic affiliation. You can learn more about the data here and imagine how complicated it was to find the exact people matches needed for the book.

Hinenu is heartwarming and shines a bright light on all the beautiful people who make up Israeli society today.

Sunday night begins the holiday of Tu b'Shevat, the "birthday of the trees." To celebrate, join the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland on Sunday for a Tu B'Shevat Day of Service with the JCRC's Climate Action Committee and the Forest Park Conservancy. Volunteers will be working on maintaining trails and removing invasive ivy in Forest Park. All ages are welcome -- learn more and register here.

Next Wednesday, February 4, please join Colonel (Ret.) Miri Eisin, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Counterterrorism at Reichman University and former Israeli international press secretary to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. She will speak about "The New Old Middle East." With the end of the war, what is new? What is old? And what does it mean for the future of the region? She will be speaking at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center at 7:00 p.m. Registration is required -- please register here.

I am excited to announce nominations are open for the 2026 Laurie Rogoway Outstanding Jewish Professional Award. This award celebrates an outstanding Jewish professional currently working at a Jewish communal organization in Greater Portland. It is designed for professionals who demonstrate exceptional professional excellence, leadership, and a deep commitment to strengthening Jewish communal life. The recipient will be honored at the Jewish Federation’s Annual Meeting and receive up to $1,800 to support a professional development experience of their choice. Anyone in the community may submit a nomination. Please complete the online nomination form here no later than February 22, 2026.

Shabbat shalom.