The plight of the Bibas family, in particular, captured the hearts of people around the world. We held onto hope that two young boys, Ariel and Kfir, taken hostage alongside their mother, Shiri, were somehow still alive. When their father, Yarden, was released, we prayed it was only a matter of time before the rest of the family would also be freed.

Then, the devastating news arrived—Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir had been murdered in Gaza. Our hearts shattered. As I watched the funeral, I found myself asking, “How does this happen in a civilized world? How are we to hold onto hope when a mother and her two young children are killed simply because of their nationality or religion?”

Grief washed over me, leaving me with an overwhelming sense of loss.

But then, I thought about ALYN Hospital—the extraordinary institution I have the honor of supporting and representing. ALYN is a place where children the same age as Ariel and Kfir receive care and healing. It is a place where Muslims and Jews, Arabs and Israelis, people of all backgrounds and languages, come together for a singular purpose: to help children in need. At ALYN, there is no division, no barriers—only the unwavering commitment to provide hope and healing to every child who needs it.

And so, even in the midst of this profound sorrow, I find hope. Hope that the spirit of ALYN—the spirit of compassion, unity, and humanity—will one day triumph over the forces of hatred and violence. Hope that, somehow, someday, the world will embrace the values that ALYN embodies, and that the darkness that stole Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir from us will be replaced by light.

Am Yisrael Chai!