534 Days Since Hostages in Gaza: Remembering Lives

There are no words to be said anymore.

What can one say about people being kept underground for 534 days? These below are the faces of the 24 still presumed alive.

I am writing this from Amsterdam, on my way to Tel Aviv Thursday night. Thankfully, we have not seen any huge proPalestinian rallies, but there was one man who has a large display accusing Israel of every possible crime one can imagine set up in front of a main square. I showed up in my Hebrew Hostages and Families Forum sweatshirt and he tried to hand me a “Facts” flyer that I refused.  

This is the city where Anne Frank and Etty Hillesum were taken to Westerbork, and from there on to Auschwitz. By some grace, we have their extraordinary diaries as a record to pass on. More than 75% of Dutch Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. 

I am left puzzling over and over again what a short memory so much of the world has.

Please share the flyer. Please walk with us. Please say their names.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Rachel

Sunday, March 16h marks the 534th day since 240 hostages were kidnapped from Israel and taken to Gaza. 59 of them still remain captive there, 24 of whom are thought to still be alive. Please – join us this Sunday to walk for all those still held hostage. The world cannot forget. Please bring posters and wear red.

The local Boulder chapter of Run For Their Lives (part of the larger Bring Them Home Now initiative) has been walking in downtown Boulder every week since Thanksgiving, 2023. There are multiple groups like ours meeting internationally and across US cities (including a local Denver chapter).

There are 231 active Run For Their Lives groups across the world. Wherever you are, whether visiting friends or family or vacationing, you can join a group and walk with them, or walk on your own and post a video in the main Run For Their Lives Facebook group, in our local FB group, or on your own feeds. The initiative’s goal is to get as much press coverage as possible for the hostages through publicizing these walks. 

Please share our local instagram posts: https://www.instagram.com/run4theirlives_boulder/profilecard/?igsh=aG84MTQ0ZWJ4ODY5

Please join our Boulder group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18k7a9WJ23/

If you want to order Run For Their Lives gear, you can get it at: https://www.calicustoms.info/runfortheirlives and donations for items can also be made to https://solidarity.bringthemhomenow.net/

Our group meets at 1 pm on the corner of Pearl & 8th and walks the length of the Pearl Street Mall and back, stopping at the courthouse for a brief video that the leads of Run For Their Lives include in their weekly recap. The goal is to share the message far and wide (specifically via social media) that the hostages have not been forgotten. This is not a protest; it is a peaceful walk to show solidarity with the hostages and their families, and a plea for their release.

When: Sunday, March 23rd at 1 pm
Meet-up: Corner of Pearl & 8th Street