A statement following the release of remaining hostages from Gaza
Read a statement from our Principal, Rabbi Professor Deborah Kahn-Harris, following today’s return of the remaining hostages from Gaza.
כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יוּכַ֜ל הָאָדָ֗ם לִמְצוֹא֙ אֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֣ה תַֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ בְּ֠שֶׁ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲמֹ֧ל הָאָדָ֛ם לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָ֑א וְגַ֨ם אִם־יֹאמַ֤ר הֶֽחָכָם֙ לָדַ֔עַת לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִמְצֹֽא׃
…Indeed, human beings cannot guess the events that occur under the sun. For humans try strenuously, but fail to guess them; and even if those who are wise should think to discover them they would not be able to guess them. [Ecc 8: 17]
Never have the words of Kohelet rung truer to me. Little more than a week ago when I last wrote to you, I would not have guessed that we were so close to a ceasefire deal and that, as we head into Simchat Torah 5786, we would be celebrating the return of the remaining, living hostages. Across the Jewish world, we will be able to breathe a little easier today, even while our joy is only bittersweet as we remember those hostages who will never return alive from Gaza. We take a moment to remember them and hold their families and loved ones in our thoughts.
Fortuitously, LBC’s own Chief Operating Officer, Paulo Kulikovsky, was in Israel today and writes to use directly from Hostage Square, where he, too, was out celebrating the release of our hostages. You can read his words below alongside some of the video he recorded of this historic moment.
There is so much, that with Kohelet, I cannot guess in this world, so I can only offer a prayer, a hope, for this moment. Please, God, let today be the moment that our world begins to heal and a lasting, equitable resolution can be agreed. Let the words of the prophet Micah ring out throughout the land, across the world, and be fulfilled:
3Thus [God] will judge among the many peoples,
And arbitrate for the multitude of nations,
However distant;
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not take up
Sword against nation;
They shall never again know war;
4But every family shall sit
Under its own vine and fig tree
With no one to disturb them.
For it was GOD of Hosts who spoke. [Mi 4: 3-4]
Rabbi Professor Deborah Kahn-Harris
Principal | Leo Baeck College
On October 13 2025, as the last hostages were returned to Israel, LBC COO, Paulo Kulikovsky joined the crowds commemorating this historic moment in Tel Aviv.
Paulo reflected on this occasion: “Being in Israel on this emotional day has been a privilege. The country stopped to welcome the hostages, with joy for the ones that are returning alive and grief for the bodies yet to be returned. This is a day of very high emotions, with many people crying of joy on the streets, and families of all ages celebrating. It was great to be able to feel these emotions with Israelis. May this lead to a peace.”