On the road with Nili Margalit

Dear Friends,

This week’s Shabbat message arrives a day late. I’ve been traveling through Colorado with Nili Margalit, released hostage from Nir Oz, devoted pediatric ER nurse at Soroka University Medical Center, a teaching staff member in BGU’s Department of Nursing, and a two-time graduate of that same department. Many of you met her for the first time at the 2024 Board of Governors meeting when she received the Presidential Award to an emotional standing ovation.

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Together, we’ve spoken at public events and held intimate meetings where Nili has bravely and candidly shared her story of October 7, of her time in captivity, and of her return.

Her story is one of unimaginable loss paired with extraordinary resilience. With disarming honesty and even unsettling humor, she begins her talks with a line that stops the room: “Hi, I’m Nili. I’m from Kibbutz Nir Oz… and I also spent some time in Gaza.”

Held “40 meters under Gaza” alongside a group of elderly hostages from her kibbutz, Nili drew on her nursing training from BGU to care for those around her, advocate for them, and even demand a measure of dignity from her captors. There is no question: people are alive today because of her actions.

Since her release, Nili has worked tirelessly campaigning for the return of all the hostages, including her father, who was murdered on October 7 and whose body remains in Gaza, and several close friends who are still being held somewhere under Gaza.

As Nili tells her story, she reminds us that every day of continued fighting further reduces the chances of bringing the remaining hostages home. With each passing day, the risk grows that those who know where her father’s body lies will be killed. The chance that another hostage will die, or that another soldier will fall.

I've intentionally avoided public positions on aspects of the war that may be perceived as political. But after traveling with Nili and hearing her speak with such clarity and courage, I heard myself begin to share publicly a message that needs to be said more broadly; the moral imperative has become impossible to ignore.

While I know some of you may be uncomfortable with this public stand, I ask that you understand the context and the seriousness with which I make it. This is not a partisan message, nor does it advocate for any political party. It arises from a moral position. Last night, I was invited to give the sermon at the B’nai Vail congregation, where I spoke of the Jewish commandment of pidyon shvuyim, redeeming the captives, which, in our tradition, takes precedence over nearly all other mitzvot. I spoke of the deep Jewish value of mutual responsibility. At BGU, this principle of reciprocal responsibility has guided our every action since October 7.

The vast majority of Israelis are ready for this war to end and for the hostages to come home. This statement crosses almost the entire political spectrum. As many of you know, I’ve had numerous meetings in the Knesset over the past months. In backrooms, away from the spotlight, most Knesset members, except those on the far right, quietly agree.

Our students, many of whom have served over 300 or even 400 days in the reserves, and who are being called back again as I write this, deserve the chance to return to their studies full time, to their families, and to finish their degrees.

We must be brave enough to say that the war is approaching its end, and that each additional day continues to claim the lives of hostages, soldiers, and civilians. Ending the war will not only open the door for the hostages' return, it will also ease the growing humanitarian crisis we see every day on the news. Hamas bears responsibility for much of the civilian suffering. But Israel, with its clear military successes - and yes, we have won militarily - has the power to end this war and shape the future. We’ve declared victory in Lebanon. We’ve declared victory in Iran. It is time to do the same in Gaza.

It is time to bring Nili’s father home.

Our tour continues this coming week in New York and Montreal. Thank you, as always, for your support.

Shavua tov,

Danny