I just want to crawl under a rock today. I feel for the families of those hostages so much.

My heart aches.

And of course, the Magistrate, what a loss for this community.

I am filled with grief. And then the news of the hostages... I weep.

We have lost a soul, a voice of reason.

My husband and I lost a friend on Wednesday. The MURDER of the hostages yesterday. The death of The Magistrate earlier today. I am just incredibly sad and down.

Was one of the hostages the son of the couple who spoke at the convention? Their son was named Hirsch.

Their bodies were found with multiple gunshot wounds, Israel’s Health Ministry said, citing an examination carried out by Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.

The ministry said that the hostages were murdered between 48 and 72 hours before their autopsy, meaning between Thursday and Friday morning.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/bodies-of-6-hostages-murdered-by-hamas-just-days-earlier-found-in-rafah-idf/

Just to prevent any “deal.”

Tears leaked from my eyes, and my heart, as I thought of their youth and their potential, and how it had been obliterated by Hamas, by their cruelty and savagery and inhumanity; and all the hostages had endured for the past 10 months. It broke a piece of my heart, a piece of my Jewish soul that is connected to all other Jewish souls. I guess my soul wept too.

As I wore my "Bring them home now" dog tag today, it was with both extreme sorrow and extreme and urgent prayers that it be so.

Then I thought of the Magistrate and imagined he would be there, in HaOlam HaBa, to meet them, and maybe he and they could somehow all work from the other side to help bring about a favorable outcome for the remaining hostages. I know that's not exactly in keeping with Jewish thought, but it gave me some comfort and a small smile.

I've read there are many chambers in heaven, according to Jewish teachings. Interesting stories about who serves as guardians for these chambers and how souls still get to interact made me think he'd somehow get to meet them, as they begin their transitions at the same time.