18 | NOVEMBER 16 • 2023
but “decided that the number
220 is almost too large to
comprehend, and without
names and faces we would not
be able to truly embrace the
horror of the situation.”
He printed the full set
of flyers and left them for
congregants to place on seats
next to them. Those who
attended ensured that every
flyer was given a seat.
At Congregation Beth
Shalom in Oak Park, Rabbi
Robert Gamer
displayed photos
and the names of
those murdered by
Hamas at the back
of the sanctuary
and placed photos
of the hostages on
sanctuary seats.
“Congregants were
very moved by the pictures of
the murdered,” he said.
Congregation Beth Ahm
displayed a photo, taken
outside a Tel Aviv museum,
of a set Shabbat table with
220 chairs, one of for each
of the hostages. “We also set
up a chair on our
front bimah with a
tallit, a siddur and
a prayer for the
return of captives,”
said Rabbi Steven
Rubenstein.
Redemption
of hostages is
a key precept in Talmudic
Judaism, and many Orthodox
congregations are adding
prayers for the release of
the Israeli captives. “We are
praying extra and learning
extra,” said Rabbi
Shaya Katz of
Young Israel of
Oak Park.
Kehillat Etz
Chaim in Oak
Park displayed
the names of
Rabbi
Robert
Gamer
Rabbi
Steven
Rubenstein
Rabbi
Shaya Katz
continued on page 20
Display at
Temple Beth El
Congregation
B’nai Moshe’s
display
OUR COMMUNITY
continued from page 16
ON THE COVER