Hudson Valley Jewish community responds after bodies of Goshen native and husband were found in Gaza
Rabbi Meir Borenstein, of Chabad of Orange County, said the reclamation of the bodies was important, according to Jewish culture, although Thursday's news may have retraumatized friends and family.
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Orange County's Jewish faith leaders are counseling their community after another sad milestone for friends and family of a Goshen native killed in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.
Chana Burston, emissary for Chabad of Orange County, is encouraging worshippers to stay in the light, and not to go into the dark.
"When we light our Shabbat candles, we light our homes and hearts," she said standing next to a Shabbat candle project made by the Chabad's younger members.
The U.S. military announced Thursday morning the bodies of Goshen native Judih Weinstein and her husband Gadi Haggai were recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza.
The two, aged 70 and 72, were attacked Oct. 7, 2023 during their morning walk near Kibbutz Nir Oz, and thought to be dead.
Though they were confirmed dead in December 2023, their bodies were still held for another year and a half by a militant group linked to Hamas.
Their families can now bury them and find some level of closure, though they cannot simply forget, Burston said.
"It's not just closure but it's respected by in a very special way," she said of the burial customs. "We're very thankful to have them back — Judih and Gadi — but we don't have them back alive."
She and other local Jewish leaders are encouraging more prayer and more positivity.
Rabbi Meir Borenstein, of Chabad of Orange County, said the reclamation of the bodies was important, according to Jewish culture, although Thursday's news may have retraumatized friends and family.
Borenstein has counseled a handful of families touched by the Israel-Hamas war.
He said one relative of a hostage who was a guest at the Chabad recently surprised worshippers with his optimism.
"We thought that we would give him inspiration. He was giving us inspiration," Borenstein said. "Ultimately, we see that the Jewish pride, the Jewish happiness, is still strong."
He said he prays the families of Weinstein and Haggai — and of other hostages — can also respond with a similar hope and stay in the light.
Israeli officials said there are still 56 hostages in Gaza and about 20 of them are still alive.
Rep. Pat Ryan — who represents this area, and has done a lot to elevate the voices of the hostages' families — offered some sentiments Thursday in a statement to News 12.
"Orange County’s Judih Weinstein Haggai was a beloved teacher; Gadi was a talented musician," Ryan said. "The past 600+ days have brought unimaginable grief to the Haggai family. Though the pain of 10/7 will never fade, finally, we have some closure. May their memory be a blessing."
