Hamas Releases Edan Alexander, Last Living American Hostage - Joy, tears, and jubilation—this was the environment in which Edan Alexander, a dual Israeli-American citizen held hostage by Hamas, returned to this week. Edan was kidnapped during the Oct 7. attacks, and he had been in confinement for over a year-and-a-half. We highly recommend watching the video of his homecoming; it will likely move you to tears. While the Jewish community celebrates Edan’s return, our hearts and prayers turn to the 58 remaining hostages held in the Gaza strip. We await their return as we continue to mourn the loss of all life in this terrible conflict.

Worldwide Jewish Community Celebrates Lag BaOmer - Today, Jewish communities from around the world celebrate Lag BaOmer. Lag BaOmer marks the 33rd day of the 49-day Omer count between Passover and Shavuot. The Omer count commemorates the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot—during which Jews count each day as a reminder of the time spent in the wilderness before arriving at Mount Sinai.

Lag BaOmer is a break from the period of semi-mourning observed during the Omer count, and is meant to be a day of joy. One iconic custom is to light bonfires to symbolize the light of Torah. In fact, a Lag BaOmer celebration is happening in very own community tonight: Chabad of Maine is presenting a Jewish Family Festival complete with all-you-can-eat BBQ, a petting zoo, and a bonfire. You can register for the event, which is open to all, here.

Pesach Sheni - This week also marked the commemoration of Pesach Sheni, or “Second Passover.” Pesach Sheni, meaning "Second Passover," is a Jewish holiday observed exactly one month after the main Passover (Pesach). In the time of the Temple, it provided a second opportunity for individuals who were unable to observe Passover due to ritual impurity, distance from Jerusalem, or other circumstances. While Pesach Sheni is not widely observed today, it has become an “unofficial holiday” promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance within Jewish communities. You can read more about the transformation of Pesach Sheni in The Times of Israel.

Israel-Hamas War Continues - Israel held its breath this week upon reports that the IDF may have killed Muhammad Sinwar, the brother of Yahya Sinwar and an architect of the 10/7 attacks. Muhammad Sinwar became the militant group’s de facto leader after the Israeli military killed his brother, Yahya Sinwar, last October. 

In a statement, the IDF said it carried out a strike on the European hospital in Khan Yhounis—beneath which it believed Hamas had created a “command and control center,” purposefully using the hospital as a large human shield. In response to the news, former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said “There is little chance the war can end before [Muhammad Sinwar] dies….his removal could open the door for the release of all hostages and beginning to move toward a post-war future for Gaza without Hamas.”