A senior member of the Archdiocese of New York’s leadership met with survivors and relatives of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, for the second time in as many weeks. 

Auxiliary Bishop Edmund Whalen, the archdiocese’s vicar for clergy, listened intently to descriptions of hostages that remain in Hamas hands, at a meeting of the group held just under 10 weeks after the incident.

The meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Manhattan, saw about 30 family members and friends of hostages, representing the Hostages and Missing Families Forum pleading for assistance in getting their relatives back. The group represents 135 families, representatives said.

A total of 240 hostages were taken back to an unknown location or locations in Gaza on October 7 and 8, including citizens of Israel, the United States, Thailand, the Philippines, and other nations. To date, 50 have been released, including all of the Thai nationals.

Members of the group wore t-shirts and carried placards with their relative’s photo and age displayed on them, and carrying the message, “Bring Her/Him Home Now!”

Many of the group of mostly young people told stories of the hostages they were there to represent. Ron Benjamin, 53, was kidnapped on October 7 while riding his bicycle. His elder daughter, Gil, 21, said during the attack, her parents sent a text message. “They are at our house. They caught us.” While their mother has since been released, Benjamin remains a captive. 

Medical concerns were a high priority for the group. One hostage has Celiac disease, which makes her intolerant to gluten, and asthma, and is without her inhaler. Other hostages are elderly and without medication they take regularly or even daily, members of the group said. Many held back tears as they spoke of their loved ones and their desire to see them again.

“You are here for the love of your family and friends. You need to keep speaking,” Bishop Whalen told the group. “Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Don’t give up on the love. Don’t give up on your loved ones,” he said. 

At the close of the meeting, Bishop Whalen read Psalm 121 aloud in English. Rabbi Noam E. Marans, the director of interreligious and intergroup relations for the AJC who served as the meeting’s host, then chanted the psalm in Hebrew. Representatives of the Forum presented Bishop Whalen with a replica dog tag with “Stand With Israel” engraved on it in Hebrew, similar to one Cardinal Timothy Dolan had received during a December 7 meeting with four survivors of the October 7 attack. Bishop Whalen expressed his gratitude for the gift and immediately donned it.