412

I love the 412. While my wife and I were not born and raised in Pittsburgh, we have made it our beloved home for 26 years. We love this city and region. Our kids, who have gone on to careers outside of the city, both have T-shirts emblazoned in large print with the 412 area code. My son even has 412 tattooed on his ankle (don’t tell his grandparents).

Today, 412 carries another meaning. It has been 412 long days since Hamas terrorists violently attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people, injuring hundreds more, terrorizing an entire country and dragging more than 250 hostages across the border into underground tunnels built by Hamas throughout Gaza. A handful have been rescued, some released, and today, there are still 101 held captive. We know that some of those 101 are dead, killed by their captors. All their families want is for them to come home.

Hamas was indiscriminate in who they took captive. Young and old, men and women, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists, even babies and toddlers were taken by these terrorists. Of the 101 remaining, seven are American citizens, just like you and me.

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Last week, I was in Israel for the fourth time since Hamas broke the “cease-fire” with Israel on Oct. 7. Each time, I have had the privilege of meeting with the families of hostages. One of those is the family of Alon Ohel. I met with his parents again on this trip. Alon is from the region of Misgav, in the north of Israel. Misgav holds a special place in my heart as it is one of our Pittsburgh Jewish community’s partner regions along with the city of Karmiel. In fact, the city of Pittsburgh has a formal city-to-city partnership with both Karmiel and Misgav.

On Oct. 7, Alon was at the Nova dance festival. He, along with others, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, hid in a bomb shelter. As the Hamas terrorists threw grenades inside, Alon and others tossed them back out, until one finally exploded inside, killing many. Alon was one of the few survivors and was taken hostage.

Alon loves playing piano, so right in the middle of Hostage Square in Tel Aviv (yes, there is a square dedicated to the hostages), sits a piano. On the piano, in bright yellow letters, it says, “You are not Alone.” We have a piano with the same yellow letters in our own Pittsburgh JCC. None of us is Alon. But Alon is alone right now.

412 days in captivity is 412 days too many. Keep the pressure on the U.S. government to demand the release of all hostages now. Demand that the United Nations do its job and put pressure on Hamas, Iran and its terror proxies. Question why the International Red Cross has not visited the hostages to check on them, as they have done in war zones and conflicts around the world. Wear yellow ribbon pins to show your solidarity with the hostages. Pray for their release in your places of worship.

Your Jewish community in Pittsburgh needs your support now and these hostages need your advocacy until they are returned to their hurting families. There is right and wrong in the world and allowing these hostages to remain captive in tunnels in abhorrent, unimaginable conditions is just plain wrong. Please use those huge Pittsburgh 412 hearts to express your support to Bring Them Home Now! PJC

Jeffrey Finkelstein is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.