I saw someone write that we’ve all been sitting shiva on our phones since this past Saturday, the news broke about the death of six Jews, murdered by Hamas after being taken hostage on October 7, and I really feel like that’s true. We’ve all been mourning the deaths of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino and Eden Yerushalmi, who managed to hold on for 11 months in captivity. We’ve been crying and grieving with their families, and fearful for the fate of the other 101 hostages still in Gaza.
Some of those mourning along have been some very high profile names, including actors like Ben Stiller and Gal Gadot. Here are some of the messages of grief and anger that Jewish celebrities have shared:
Doug Emhoff:
Doug Emhoff, the nation’s first second gentleman, spoke to his congregation, Adas Israel in Washington, about his grief over the hostages.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Hersh and his parents, or about the five others and their families.” He added, “This is hard. I feel raw. I’m gutted.” He shared that Hersh’s loss felt so personal for him and Kamala, who had met his parents, Rachel and Jon. They spoke to the two on Sunday to share their condolences, and Emhoff shared that despite their grief, they still asked about what is being done to release the other hostages. While “part of Rachel and Jon’s world had just ended,” he said, “they somehow are still looking forward and looking out for others.”
“Jon and Rachel’s hearts have room to hold everyone,” Emhoff continued. “They are not giving up, and neither can we. Not on this 333rd day. Not ever. Not until every hostage is reunited with their family.”
Gal Gadot:
Israeli “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot shared her grief in her Instagram story. “They survived almost 11 months in captivity and then were murdered by Hamas. People who became an inseparable part of our hearts, families who waited so long for a different end, the heart is broken into pieces today. 101 more hostages still there,” she wrote, adding the hashtag #bringthemhomenow and sharing a picture of the six hostages.
Ben Stiller:
Comedian, actor and “Severance” showrunner Ben Stiller, who recently shared an op-ed about Israel in Time, shared his love and support for the families of the hostages on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, sending the families his love and support. “So many people are sharing your pain,” he wrote, sharing that his family’s heart goes out to them.
Sending love and support to the families of the hostages who lives were lives were taken so brutally. So many people are sharing this pain. My family’s heart goes out to you.
💙💙💙
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) September 2, 2024
Gwyneth Paltrow:
Soon after the news broke out on Sunday, Jewish actress and Goop CEO Gwyneth Paltrow shared a message with the families of the six hostages on Instagram.
“To the families of each hostage whose life was stolen, I have thought of you every day for 11 months, but today I send you my heart,” it read, adding the hashtag #endtheviolence.
The actress, whose brother recently released the movie “June Zero” about the Eichmann trial, has also spoken out against the violence against women perpetrated on October 7 in the past, and shared in her Instagram story this past week, “There are still 17 women being held by Hamas. Where are the feminists?” with the hashtag “#rapeisnotresistance.”
Debra Messing:
“Will & Grace” star Debra Messing, who has been consistenly advocating for Israel and the hostages on her social media, shared a tearful message about her grief over the murdered hostages on Sunday. “The collective grief, the agony that comes with the news that Hersh and those five beautiful souls were executed ISIS style in the last two days is unbearable,” she said, referring to the fact that hostages were found with bullet wounds in their heads.
“Rachel and Jon spoke to the world at the DNC, begging for their rescue, for their release, and two days ago, standing on the border of Gaza with a bullhorn screaming, ‘Hersh! Fight. Survive. We won’t give up,'” Messing recalled, adding that “every American should be grieving today, because Hersh did not have to die.” Messing called Hamas “monsters” and criticized those who had shared an “all eyes on Rafah” social media post, which is where the hostages were found.
Iliza Shlesinger:
Comedian Iliza Shlesinger, who spoke about how October 7 events deepened her desire to share her Judaism, shared her feelings in a series of Instagram stories.
On Hersh, she wrote, “I thought/think about him and the other hostages every day,” adding that “his mother is such a ray of light and hope. My heart breaks with hers. My love and thoughts are with her and their family tonight.”
“Being Jewish means that when you mourn publicly, you have to do it with caution. Many go to great lengths to say that not only does our pain matter less than others, but that we, in fact, matter less than others. And shouldn’t even exist. And the persistent pain of knowing people think that leaves an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. But it won’t break our spirit,” she wrote in another.
Selma Blair:
Jewish actress Selma Blair shared her own feelings about the killings on Instagram stories. “In October there was a chance for the world to see what terrorists were capable of,” she said. “So much of the world, especially where I live in California, doesn’t seem to see this tragedy and the truth of what is happening,” she continued. “I stand with Israel, I stand with the hostages, I stand with their families, mothers, sisters, friends. They’re innocent people that have been in hell and murdered.” She called Hamas “Jihadists” and “terrorists” and said it felt wrong that there were, in her eyes, people marching in support of their actions: “Something very wrong is happening here.”
“I stand with the families and I stand with all of us who care for peace and human life. I’m with you,” she said, adding the Hebrew words “am Israel chai” — the people of Israel live — as well as “God bless America.”
Thank you #SelmaBlair for your basic empathy, your humanity and radiating moral clarity, in standing with Israel and the hostages who remain captive in Gaza! 🙏 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/FK2HPZkXHf
— Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ (@Ostrov_A) September 4, 2024
The Cast and Crew of “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem”:
Eden Yerushalmi, a bartender at the Nova festival and a well beloved hostess at the Tel Aviv cafe where she worked, was also a big fan of the hit Israeli show “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem.” The show’s Instagram account shared a message with its followers about her:
“With a heavy heart, the cast and crew of The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem are devastated to share that Eden Yerushalmi, who watched and loved the show, was murdered in Hamas captivity,” it read. “May Eden, Hersh, Carmel, Alex, Almog and Ori’s memories be a blessing.”
Scott “Scooter” Braun:
Renowned music producer Scooter Braun shared several messages on his Instagram stories and grid. He shared a video of him talking to Rachel Golberg-Polin and a photo of the six hostages, captioned: “Today in honor of those lost and in honor of the strength of Rachel Polin Goldberg and the other family members for the last 330 days – We will wear today’s number, 331, to honor and remember her son, American citizen and Nova Festival attendee, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, as well as the other 5 innocent hostages who were brutally executed and murdered in cold blood this week by Hamas,” he wrote.
“All 6 of these innocent civilians will be honored and remembered. All 6 of these souls were an entire world. Say their names… Carmel Gat, 40; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Alexander Lobanov, 32; Almog Sarusi, 27; Ori Danino, 25; and Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23. Please join us today in honoring them and demanding more. May their memory be a blessing…FOREVER!”
