Gilad Shalit returns home

The World Union for Progressive Judaism, representing 1.8 million Jews around the world is delighted to welcome Gilad Shalit back home to Israel and his family.

After over five years of captivity the nightmare is finally over and the WUPJ wishes Gilad Shalit and his family and friends an easy passage back to normality.

Many countries and numerous people were involved in the negotiations that lead to Shalit's release and in this spirit of co-operation may we pray that goodwill will be generated for future stability in the region.

In this time of joy, however, we must pause to ponder the enormous prices Israel paid to secure Gilad Shalit's release. Our thoughts turn to the families of the victims of some of the terrorists who have been released in this prisoner exchange. The WUPJ understands their misgivings but we hope that this symbolic gesture can outweigh their fears and concerns.

May we see in the New Year with hope and a new beginning.

Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs, President
World Union for Progressive Judaism

Michael Grabiner
Chair World Union for Progressive Judaism

 

IN ADDITION TO THIS STATEMENT, RABBI STEPHEN FUCHS JOINED IN A STATEMENT MADE BY LEADERS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN REFORM JEWISH COMMUNITY:

Every bee that brings the honey
Needs a sting to be complete
And we all must learnto taste
the bitter with the sweet.

These words from Israeli singer Nomi Shemer express our emotions today upon the release of Gilad Shalit.We shall always hold dear those whose lives were cut short by those released from prison today even as we rejoice with the Shalit family, Israel and the Jewish people for the return of Gilad.

Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President
Union for Reform Judaism

Rabbi David Ellenson, President
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Rabbi Steven Fox, Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis

Rabbi Daniel Allen, Executive Director
Association of Reform Zionists of America

Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs, President
World Union for Progressive Judaism

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