BEACHWOOD, Ohio — Northeast Ohio's Jewish community is feeling a great sense of relief Friday, after Hamas released hostages for the first time in their war against Israel.
The militant group released 24 hostages that they've captive in Gaza for weeks, 13 of them being Israeli. In exchange, Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire.
“The news of the 13 Israeli hostages released today brought an immense amount of joy, an immense amount of hope for the Jewish community and others around the world," said Rabbi Scott Roland of
Congregation Shaarey Tikvah in Beachwood, Ohio.
JewishAkron CEO Daniel Blain called it "a tremendous relief" and awaits to hear the state of those released.
"We don't know in what condition they'll be, certainly from a psychological vantage point, they have to have gone through a tremendous trauma," he said.
Leaders with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland are also elated, with their hearts and minds now focused on those that are still being held hostage.
"I just can't get past the image of the other people whose loved ones are still being held hostage and what today must feel like for them," said the federation's Community Relations Committee Chair Susan Borison. "And also, we don't know how those people are who are being let go, who are being released to their loved ones today. You know, it's been a long stretch of being held hostage. Some of them are very young."
Her sense of gratitude is also deep.
"So thrilling," she said. "We should all be so grateful for today and really hopeful that this continues down a path toward peace, that this is the first step."
Both the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and JewishAkron continue to raise funds for those impacted by the warfare.
Borison also told 3News that The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is working on a large sign right now that's big enough to be seen by drivers on the street, a piece of beautiful artwork that will show passionate support for those enduring the war abroad.