To Our Jewish Community in Colorado:
For the first time in 12 years, there are no Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, and after 843 days, the remains of the last hostage from October 7th have been recovered.
Today, JEWISHcolorado and the Jewish Federations of North America send our love and deepest condolences to the family of Police St. Sgt. Ran Gvili — one of the first taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th, more than two years ago, and the last to be recovered. He died protecting his country and saving lives. His willingness to fight for his community and sacrifice on behalf of the Jewish people are the very definition of heroism.
We also express profound gratitude to the IDF and to all those who continue to serve and all those who persevered in bringing home each of the 251 hostages, as well as to the leadership in both Israel and the United States who were involved in these efforts. Because of their work, there are no longer any Israeli hostages being held in Gaza for the first time since 2014. The return of Ran Gvili closes one of the most painful chapters in Jewish history in our lifetime — even as we continue to mourn, remember, and honor all those who were lost.
From our Senior Israeli Emissary (Shlicha), Nelly Ben Tal:
When the best news arriving from Israel is wrapped in sorrow, we are reminded how fragile “normal” has become and how much sensitivity, empathy, and care are demanded of us in this moment. Watching the videos of the soldiers recovering Ran Gvili’s body- embracing one another, singing, and carrying him home with tenderness- breaks something open. It is unbearable and beautiful at the same time.
(Israel Defense Force)
Ran was the first to enter and the last to return. He was held captive for 843 days. With his return, for the first time since 2014, there are no hostages left in Gaza. This reality carries relief and profound grief, held simultaneously.
This is what Jewish peoplehood means for me: a commitment to be better—here, there, and everywhere. It is the insistence on choosing life, dignity, and responsibility, again and again. It is striving toward the good even when it feels fractured, uneven, and painful.
Poet and singer Leonard Cohen reminded us, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” This moment is cracked. And the light is real.
Now is a time for healing. With our heads held high, we remove the yellow pin and allow the yellow to return to being sun and light, drawn simply in children’s pictures. Healing does not erase scars, nor should it.
Memory is part of our moral inheritance. Just as we remember the yellow star, we will remember the yellow ribbon and the weight that they both carry. These memories shape us, but they do not define the totality of who we are. This is a moment that calls us to reimagine and refine ourselves: how we lead, how we speak to one another, what we teach the next generation, and what we choose to model as a people. I am deeply grateful for this moment and for the responsibility it places upon us all.
שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
May Ran Gvili rest in peace. Sending wishes for comfort to his family and to all our hearts.
On behalf of Nelly Ben Tal and all of us at JEWISHcolorado, Amen.
Renée Rockford, President & CEO
Ben Lusher, Board Chair