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If Not Now, Then When?
The blowing of the shofar, traditionally done on Rosh Hashanah. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
JNS.org – It’s been a very sad and difficult week for Israel and Jews around the world. Six hostages who survived and endured nearly a full year in captivity—some of whom were on the list to be released with the next deal—were suddenly and brutally murdered in cold blood. It’s no shock to us that their captors are savages who have zero humanity, and yet we are all devastated and heartbroken. They were “so near and yet so far.” They survived nearly 11 months of torture and abuse; now they are gone forever. Our hearts go out to their families, their loved ones and their communities, and we pray for the remaining living hostages to come home safely and speedily.
And now, with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, less than a month away, our prayers are that it should bring with it new blessings, new life and new hope for Israel, its people and all Jews around the world. We pray that this madness should somehow come to a quick and successful conclusion, that families will be reunited with their loved ones and that the future security of our tiny country will be assured.
And, of course, we all pray for ourselves and our own families. Even if we aren’t such regular synagogue-goers, we do tend to show up during the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. And we do need to arrange to have our designated seats in our chosen synagogue. But as I always say, our backside gets the seat, but our brain needs to be there as well. Yes, we must be there physically, but we also need to be there intellectually and spiritually. After all, which is more important, our brains or our backsides?
We have just begun the month of Elul, the last month before Rosh Hashanah. It is traditional to be particularly busy with our spiritual traditions, reciting extra Tehillim (“Psalms”), giving more tzedakah (“charity”) and studying more Torah.
Older rabbis and community members have shared their memories of Elul in the shtetl before the war. They recalled how back then, you could feel Elul in the winds! It was in the very atmosphere of the community. People were profoundly aware of the coming Days of Judgment.
Well, we’re here, alive and hopefully well, and we’re ready for another year of life.
Last year, God granted us a good new year. We are here to tell the tale, thank God. But, here’s the question: Did we really and truly merit a good new year last Rosh Hashanah? If we’re honest with ourselves, we might conclude that, in fact, God gave it to us on credit rather than on merit.
Now a shop or business may give their customers credit. But how much credit? Usually, it’s 30 days. If you’re a good negotiator, perhaps you can get 60 days. Some people get as much as 90 days, and some exceptional dealmakers get a line of credit for 120 days! Well, God Almighty gave us a “hundred and plenty days!” And He gave it to us in the anticipation that we would do better this year than we did the year before.
Perhaps we prayed last Rosh Hashanah and said to God, “Hashem, You do Your side, and I’ll do mine.” If we are alive and well now, then He did His part. But did we do ours? He’s a very patient businessman, the Almighty, but even He does expect us to pay for what we took on credit a year ago. He gave us 11 months, interest-free!
Who gives such terms? Well, just as there is an end to the financial year, so, too, is there a spiritual year-end. And God wants to “close His books.” He needs to make sure that they balance, and that there are no outstanding debts. Elul is the time to make good on all our commitments. If not, then we owe Him.
As the last month of the Jewish year, Elul is our last opportunity to make good on the promises we made to God in shul last Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Remember all those wonderful New Year’s resolutions? Well, if we haven’t made good on them until now, then now is definitely the time to do so.
In less than a month, we will once again gather in synagogues around the world for Rosh Hashanah—the annual Day of Judgment—and this year, God Almighty, the chief justice of the supreme heavenly court, may have to consider whether we are a good “credit risk” or not.
If we pay now, we can return to synagogues on Rosh Hashanah without feeling indebted, ashamed and apologetic. And we can then confidently ask for another new year of health and happiness. “You see, God, I pay my debts. You can trust me.”
What promises did we make last year? Did we promise to increase our observance of Shabbat, tefillin, kashrut? Did we promise to give more tzedakah, light candles at the right time for Shabbat, build a sukkah or end a faribel, a long-standing grudge with someone? Whatever good resolutions we may have made, now is the time to implement them if we have not yet done so. It’s not too late. He is very patient. Let’s do our part and the Almighty will do His. Elul is the time. Now is the moment. Let’s not squander it.
Wishing us all a Good and Sweet New Year filled with all the Almighty’s abundant blessings, and especially, peace, tranquillity and security in Israel and for Jews the world over.
Shanah Tovah!
The post If Not Now, Then When? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War

Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests

A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan

Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.