2025: The Hostages
Dad – you are the most stubborn man I know.
Your stubbornness has never been one of ego or pride; it's been one of faith. Of irrational hope. In the darkest and most uncertain moments of your life – of which you've had more than your share – when no person, no circumstance, no deity gave you reason to believe, you still did.
Last week, as the twenty living hostages began to return home to Israel, I thought about you constantly. I saw your spirit in the families who refused to give up.
For two years they prayed into silence.
Whispered names into the dark.
Set one more place at the table.
Loved, without knowing their love was being received.
Wept, and then believed again.
With the world watching – and their worlds on the line – they kept humanity's quietest power alive: the courage to endure without reason. To still believe.
Today, on your 70th birthday, it is my honor to donate $25,200 in your name – $1,260 to each of the twenty hostages and their families. Several of the families have heard your story. Soon, you'll hear from them.
I love you endlessly. May you continue to be a blessing to all who cross your path.
A very special thank you to Benjamin Anthony and Rozita Pnini of The MirYam Institute, who are personally seeing through the distribution of these funds to the families now.
October 21, 2025