“(God) secures justice for those who are wronged, feeds the hungry, God releases the prisoners” (Psalms 146:17).
Malbim* says “it is to say that a human king, in freeing a prisoner from his sentence, has already done enough justice and goodwill, and a person will not ask for any more help, but God frees the prisoners and then looks out for their wellbeing.”
We therefore understand that even though God has freed some of the hostages, this is not sufficient. We will ask for justice and for the return of all of our kidnapped and hostages.
And nevertheless, we must give thanks for the miracle that was done. As it says in the Talmud, “four types of people need to give thanks (including) those who were imprisoned and were released … And they must give thanks in front of at least ten.”
Those freed must give thanks in front of ten – because those ten must also give thanks! So too, today, must we show gratitude for the miracle of every freed hostage, and simultaneously demand that justice be done and that we witness the return of every single hostage.
* Biblical commentator, 19th century Ukraine
