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