The horrific news that six hostages, innocent and beautiful souls, were brutally murdered by Hamas has deeply shaken our community. Our hearts are with the families of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Carmel Gat and Alexander Lobanov. This tragedy is one in a long series of losses we’ve endured since October 7th.
Hope felt almost impossible to grasp, but we still held it close, a thread to a future where all our hostages are home and peace is possible. Just last week, one Israeli hostage, Kaid Farhan Elkadi, was rescued so bravely by the Israel Defense Forces. Hope is something we must continue to hold on to, especially now for the remaining hostages.
Our ELEM team in Israel is working tirelessly, even as they themselves are reeling from this collective tragedy. They are there for thousands of youths who have witnessed too much tragedy, for the teens struggling to express their pain, for the children starting their school year under the shadow of profound loss, and for the young adults survivors who are continuously re-traumatized with every piece of news. Their resilience is a true testament to our shared commitment to standing with those who need us most.
As ELEM mourns alongside the entire nation, we continue our essential work with youth facing unimaginable trauma, providing a ray of hope that none of us can afford to lose, even in the darkest of times.
We all must reach out to those around us to connect with our communities, offer support, make space for our grief and be that ray of hope we all need.
Zichronam Livracha – may the memories of Hersh, Ori, Eden, Almog, Carmel, Alexander, and all those we have lost, be for a blessing.
With hopes for healing and peace,
Liora Attias-Hadar
ELEM CEO
