I write these words in tears sitting here in Miami, Florida at the JNF-USA Global Conference for Israel as the National Chair of Rabbis for Israel.

In May of 2024, on a JNF-USA volunteer mission along with members of Sinai Temple, we met Shelly Shem Tov, who told us of her son Omer, who was taken hostage into Gaza.

She spoke to us in anguish and heartbreak telling her the few details she knew of her son deep in Hamas tunnels. But she had hope and led the Hostage Families Forum for 505 days until her son was back home.

This morning, Shelly spoke to us again; this time, with 2700 people packed into the conference center.

This time, Omer was not a hostage. Omer is now a free man.

As Omer took the stage, he was not alone. He was accompanied by Special in Uniform, an IDF unit made of of special needs Israelis, a choir singing songs of hope.

Together, they sang, “I’m Coming Home.”

Omer concluded by telling us that deep in darkness, he felt all of us, a beam of light.

Today, we have tears of freedom. Tears of joy. Tears of life.

Shabbat Shalom.