By Bob Seidenberg
Evanston’s Tannenbaum Chabad Rabbi Dov Hillel KIein recalled saying two weeks ago if any of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas militants Oct. 7 were going to survive, it would be Judith Raanan, a frequent visitor to Chabad.
“Why?” he said. “Because she has unbelievable hope, a tremendous amount of hope.”
He quoted Chabad’s spiritual leader, the late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known to many as the Lubavitcher Rebbe
“The Lubavitcher Rebbe said ‘if a person thinks positively it’ll be positive’ and there’s no way in my mind, with her resilience, that she wasn’t thinking positively, and she kept her eye on the game, whatever she could do to be the first ones released,” he said.
Numerous news outlets reported today that Raanan and her daughter Natalie, who had gone to Israel for the Jewish High Holidays, had been released. Israel’s Prime Minister’s office had said in a statement that the hostages were received “at the border of the Gaza Strip,” and were being taken to a “meeting point at a military base in the center of the country, where their family members are waiting for them,” CBS News reported.
The release occurred a day after former Israeli-based NBC correspondent Martin Fletcher had divulged on MSNBC that the Raanans, members of his wife’s family had been taken hostage.
Still ‘bittersweet,” says Rabbi Klein
Rabbi Klein said he first heard the news from journalists in Israel.
“I am so thrilled, I’m ecstatic, because this is unbelievable news,” he said. “On the other hand, of course, it’s bittersweet because there are still 202 hostages over there and I’m concerned for their families, I’m concerned for their friends, because we need to have the release of all the hostages.”
He said he met Yehudit (Judith’s Hebrew name) 12 or 13 years ago. “I was sitting on my porch in front of the Chabad House (located at 2014 Orrington Ave.) and she was walking up Orrington with her dog and then she screamed over to us, ‘Can I come join? And I said sure.'”
He said she has been over to the Chabad center for classes, as well as Passover seders and Shabbat dinners.
“She basically became a regular in our Chabad community,” he said, “and you know she went other places as well, which is fine. She’s just such a meaningful person, a caring person who is always there for others. Maybe how much she did for others, God did for her and got her released first?” he said.
“We have to be thankful to President Biden,the State Department and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, who has been working tirelessly to get the hostages released,” he added.
A message of hope: Schakowsky
Announcing the news earlier today on X (formerly Twitter), Schakowsky noted that “the past two weeks have been horrifying and heartbreaking, but today we got a message of hope.
They are currently in good hands with the Red Cross, but I cannot wait to welcome them back home. I am sending them my love and strength.”
“I will continue to pray and do all I can to ensure the safe and swift return of all other hostages held by Hamas,” she said.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a former Evanston resident, also issued a statement in response to the release.
“In what was supposed to be a visit to their loving family in Israel, they were violently abducted by a terrorist organization. After being held against their will for nearly two weeks, they are now safe and receiving necessary medical treatment.
“I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror. We must continue to advocate and pray for the safe return of those still held by Hamas. We will not let those who use terror as their weapon win.”
