A Prayer for the Safe and Peaceful Return of Every Last Hostage to Their Home

May it be your will that all our daughters and sons, our mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters, our grandparents and children, return in peace. May their salvation be as the twinkling of an eye, their righteousness not far off, and their deliverance not tarry.
May this hour be an hour of mercy and a time of favor. Please, in Your mercy and in Your great compassion, hear our prayer and return all 98*** of the kidnapped and missing, the children of Sarah and Hagar, the children of Adam and Eve, to their homes in peace. Our hope is for their freedom and salvation, and in their return will the seeds of our repair be sown.
Bring them out of darkness into light and let them lift their eyes to the heavens. Our eyes fill with tears, our hearts are troubled, and our innards spill unto the land upon the devastation of our people and state. For our eyes have failed to see them, our throats are sore from calling out to them, and our hearts are weary of longing for our brothers and sisters.
Please heal the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty for all those in captivity, imprisoned, and taken by force. Their salvation is near for we will not be silent; we will not be content nor turn away in fear until they all return to their homes. ‘For the sake of Zion, I will not be silent, For the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still, Till her victory emerge resplendent, And her triumph like a flaming torch.’ (Isaiah 62:1)
Rescue them from the clutches of any enemy and ambush in their path, and save them from troubles, obstacles, and tribulations that may present themselves. May You shut the mouths of the slanderers, soften hardened hearts, and do not heed the evil and sin of those who impede and deny their return.
And to all who serve the needs of the public in faith, who labor for the redemption of captives, the protection of souls, and loving your neighbor as yourself – send them blessings and success in all their endeavours.
Have mercy on our brothers and sisters and on their families and grant them strength and fortitude of soul until they meet again. Send them health and wellness of body and mind. Command your angels to guard them in all their ways, lead them to their hearts’ destination, to life and peace, and guard their goings and their comings from this time forth and forevermore.
And as for those who no longer wander in the land of the living, bring them quickly to a proper burial in the Land of their ancestors, to be gathered to their people. And to all those who loved them and were beloved by them, send comfort amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may they know no more grief.
And all the captives whom we were not fortunate enough to bring back alive, may their virtue be our shield, and in their memory we will instruct our sons and our daughters to walk a good and wholesome path, to act with righteousness and justice. And in their name we will choose life; we will turn away from evil and do good, pursue righteousness and seek peace, so that our days on this earth may be lengthened.
And the teaching of our Torah will be fulfilled: "No more shall violence be heard in Your Land, destruction or pillage at your borders," and the Land will be filled with mercy, "When Adonai brings back the captivity of God’s people, Jacob will be saved, Israel will rejoice."
For we remain confident of this: “I will see the goodness of Adonai in the land of the living." Hope, be strong, and take courage. And we will say on that day: This is the day we hoped for, we have seen and rejoiced in redemption.
Blessed are you who hears our prayers. 🎗️
***Author’s note: Some hostages have thankfully returned home following a precarious deal. While we retain the original count from when this prayer was written, please update it with the latest number until all are safely home.

Partial list of sources: Lamentations 5:11 and 4:17; Leviticus 19:18; Isaiah 25:9, 26:8, 48:3, 56:1, 60:18, and 62:1; and Psalms 14:7, 27:13, 34:15, 91:11, and 121:8.

16 Tevet 5785 – January 16, 2025 – Day 468 of our calamity (since October 7th 2023).
(Translation by R. Josh Weinberg and Tanya Zion-Waldoks)