OpEds
Jewish world holding its breath
The Jewish world is holding its breath at the news that Israel and Hamas have finally signed a peace deal, brokered by the United States and various Arab nations.
The prospect of an end to this long and brutal war and the return of our innocent brothers and sisters, who have been held in the dungeons of Gaza for more than two years, is truly joyous news and comes to us during zman simchateinu, the festival of Sukkot, the season of our joy.
We have just marked the second anniversary of the 7 October 2023 massacre, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. There are truly no words to express the horror and devastation of that day, and the loss and trauma it unleashed, which has touched every Jewish community around the world.
It feels almost unbelievable that a moment for which we have all continuously hoped and prayed for these past 734 days could finally be within reach.
We are deeply grateful to the world leaders who have brought us to this moment through negotiation and dialogue, and to every individual who has raised their voice to advocate for peace and the return of the hostages.
We mourn those who will not be returning alive to their families, and commit to honouring their legacy and keeping their memory alive.
We pray that the peace plan will lead to a just and lasting resolution to the conflict, and that the deal brings peace and security to Israel and all people of the region.
May we receive good news soon! With Hashem’s help, may we be dancing in peace with our hostages home, and may the new year ahead be one of peace and renewed hope for Am Yisrael and the world.
- Alana Pugh-Jones Baranov is president of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies KwaZulu-Natal Council.
yitzchak
October 9, 2025 at 5:11 pm
So all the the flotsam from the flotilla are back from their oardeal.
Greta Thunberg complained of bedbugs during her incarceration.What;s the new slogan :”Flea flea Palestine”
Sadly Israel is a democratic country and the bedbugs don’t discriminate against Swedish white panthers.
Maybe they were carrying Typhus or if she’s unlucky plague.(Pasteurella pestis)
I don’t know why these people are not held as bargaining chips for our hostages.
Umm Rochel decided to open a samoosa store in Fordsberg.(halal of course..under the hecsher of the MJC> and BD.”Are you meshuga?” people asked. All the Jewish clientele will drive all the way from Glenhazel for my samoosas”.
But they are really Stars of David… being triangular buy 2 / . Lay the first one down pointed up and the second one on top of the first one pointed down… see now you have a Magen David.a real Jewish samoosa.
Anybody having such an item while on Haj to Saudi, will be eaten at dawn.
Chag sameach . The hostages will tell their stories. The Media Review Notwork won’t be publishing them.
SA media was indifferent to the Manchester butchery.