The Pain of the Bibas Family and Our Collective Responsibility
By Myra Clark-Siegel,
AJC Westchester/Fairfield
Regional Director
The world watched in horror as the devastating news emerged: the innocent Bibas children, Kfir and Ariel, murdered, and the news that their mother, Shiri Bibas, was as well. The sheer inhumanity of their suffering not only in life, but in death, shakes us to the core. This is not just a tragedy for their family; it is a searing wound in the collective conscience of the Jewish community and humanity.
The story of the Bibas family epitomizes the cruelty of Hamas terrorism. They were a mother and her babies, stolen from their home and subjected to unspeakable horrors. How can any society accept this? How can any leader remain silent? The answer is simple: we cannot.
We must channel our anguish into action. Every hostage must be brought home now. We must inundate social media with their names, their faces, and their stories. We must ensure that our government leaders, interfaith and intergroup partners, educators, and diplomats around the globe understand the gravity of this moment. The Jewish community is in pain, and standing with the Jewish community now is not an option—it is a moral imperative.
Governments and diplomats must hear us loud and clear. They must feel the pressure to act decisively. This is not about politics or policy—it is about human life. Every leader, every decision-maker must be confronted with this undeniable truth: time is running out. Every day that passes is another day of torment for the hostages and their families. We cannot afford complacency.
Despite the darkness, we must hold onto hope. Hope that justice will prevail. Hope that good people will rise up and demand action. Hope that the remaining hostages will return home, alive and safe. And hope that, together, we can ensure that such atrocities never happen again.
The story of Purim is one of courage and speaking up in the face of danger. Esther, initially hesitant, ultimately heeded Mordechai’s call.
Today, we see a modern-day Queen Esther in Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and ultimately, horrifically, murdered by Hamas. Since that day, Rachel has relentlessly used her voice to demand the world’s attention, calling for the immediate release of the hostages and exposing the brutal reality of Hamas as a terrorist organization.
As we approach Purim, let us channel the spirit of Queen Esther and heed Rachel’s call. We must raise our voices, demand the truth be heard, and push for immediate action to bring all the hostages home. Silence is complicity. The time to act is now.
May this Purim be not only a celebration of past miracles but also a moment where we commit to advocating against antisemitism and terror and ensuring that those in captivity are not forgotten.
#BringThemHomeNow
#HamasIsTerror
#WeWillNotBeSilent
Myra Clark-Siegel is AJC Westchester/Fairfield regional director. For information about AJC advocacy opportunities: westchester@ajc.org.