“I was not angry for even a minute, neither was my husband,” said the mother of a hostage mistakenly killed by IDF soldiers. “There was pain, sorrow, great pain…We were shocked.”

When the soldiers involved visited the family during shiva (the seven day mourning period) this mother told them she and her family love them and do not blame them for her son’s death as they “cried together.” After learning that morale was low in the IDF after the incident she chose to release this public message.

This is an example of light in a dark time. So too are the holidays of Hanukah, Christmas and Kwanza, whose common symbol of displaying lit candles and electric lights remind us that in the darkest time of the year it is possible to see light , love, forgiveness and healing.

Please join me with ongoing prayers for PEACE in 2024.

-Harriet