Our Statement on this Profound Moment for the Jewish People
We share the following sentiments from NCJW CEO Sheila Katz, with hope and love during a profound moment for the Jewish people. We call on our organizational partners in the fight for a more just world to stand with us in condemning Hamas — because in a moment that demands moral clarity, silence is not an option.
“The refusal of so many to call Hamas what it is — a terrorist organization — or to hold them accountable for their atrocities is a profound moral disgrace. If we cannot see this through the suffering of the Bibas family, then we have lost any claim to moral clarity.
“After the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012 where 20 elementary-aged children were killed, someone tweeted about gun violence in America, saying, ‘Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.’
“That sentiment — that a society’s response to the slaughter of its most vulnerable reveals its moral collapse — feels painfully relevant again.
“Kfir Bibas was just 8 ½ months old, a baby who loved to laugh. His big brother, Ariel, was four, a redheaded child who adored Batman. They were taken from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023 and held hostage — and ultimately killed — by Hamas for the crime of being Jewish. Their murder, the parading of their coffins in Gaza alongside cheers, and the psychological torture of their mother’s body not being returned as negotiated, has been met with excuses, justifications, and silence instead of the unequivocal condemnation Hamas deserves. This signals something chilling — that the world has once again decided Jewish lives are bearable losses.
“If your first thought is, ‘but what about…’ then you’ve missed the point. As a historically marginalized people, facing antisemitism at levels not seen in generations, Jews must be able to speak about being targeted by a terrorist organization that seeks to murder all of us — without being told to center someone else’s pain. Our hearts are big enough to hold multiple truths. We know that suffering is intertwined. We know that the pursuit of justice for one oppressed group strengthens justice for all. But in this moment of profound loss, we must be allowed to grieve, to name what is happening to our people, and to demand the world see it too.
“Yesterday was a tragic day for Israelis and Jewish people everywhere. It should have been a tragic day for the world.
“National Council of Jewish Women exists to build a world where all women, children, and families can thrive. We will not be deterred in our efforts.
“We mourn Kfir Bibas, Ariel Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz. We mourn for the nameless Palestinian woman that was returned instead of Shiri Bibas. We mourn all Israelis and Palestinians killed since October 7th.
“We unequivocally condemn Hamas for its unspeakable acts of violence and psychological warfare, which continue to haunt the Jewish people every day. We unequivocally condemn those making excuses for a terrorist organization whose sole mission is to eradicate Jews around the world. We demand the return of Shiri Bibas immediately.
“With the actions taken this week, Hamas has violated the terms of the negotiated hostage and ceasefire deal. We hope all those who called for a ceasefire — and all those who engage internationally — will now both call out Hamas specifically for standing in the way of a future with peace, and share their profound sadness for the murder of Jewish children in their hands.
“May the memories of Kfir Bibas, Ariel Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz be for a blessing. May Shiri Bibas and all the hostages be returned immediately.”
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National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is the oldest Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. Through the efforts of our 225,000 grassroots advocates and 49 local sections, NCJW combines education, direct service, and advocacy to affect lasting social change at the local, state, and national levels. We approach our work through the intersections of gender, economic, and racial justice to center those most impacted in a uniquely Jewish way. Learn more at NCJW.org, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.