Has The Mourning Truly Ended?
IHF Executive Director David Katz
8/4/2025, 10:32:21 PM
Despite the traditional end of the Three Weeks period of mourning for the destruction of the Temple, Rabbi Katz stated that he cannot stop mourning or crying due to the horrific conditions faced by the hostages that Hamas holds captive.
The Three Weeks is a period of mourning in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. It’s marked by customs like refraining from weddings and music, and is a time for introspection and self-improvement. The period culminates with Tisha B’Av, a day of somber reflection on historical tragedies, including the Holocaust and expulsions from England and Spain.
For over 666 days, these innocent individuals have been subjected to torture, starvation, and inhumane treatment.
Rabbi Katz calls on the world to condemn these atrocities and take immediate action to secure the release of the hostages. Until every hostage is safely returned home, the mourning and outcry will continue.
Outcry rang out in Israel over the weekend after Hamas released video appearing to show a visibly gaunt Israeli hostage appears to show Evyatar David, who was one of around 250 people taken hostage during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. Standing in an apparent tunnel while shirtless, David — who is 24, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents hostage families — appears markedly frail, his ribs and shoulder blades visible through his skin.
Speaking at a rally in in Tel Aviv on Saturday, David’s relatives expressed fear he could face the same fate, with his brother Ilay David calling on the Israeli and U.S. governments to “do everything in your power, by any means necessary” to secure his release, according to statements shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.