Hostage Parents

“But I must also feel it as a man.
I cannot but remember such things were
That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on
And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff,
They were all struck for thee! Naught that I am,
Not for their own demerits, but for mine,
Fell slaughter on their souls.” 

• Macbeth Act Four Scene Three

After the death, acharei mot, of Aaron’s sons, Moses approaches. He warns Aaron not to approach the altar unless prepared to offer a sacrifice or Aaron shall die. Aaron is in mourning, although his emotional state is not described. A glimpse of the grief a father might feel is part of the Shakespeare canon.

Macbeth murdered Macduff’s children and wife. At first, Macduff is silent. The scene is reminiscent of the Torah. Aaron too was silent when his children were consumed.

Then, with the encouragement of Prince Malcolm, Macduff pours out his heart.  In a few words, he expresses emotions I imagine Aaron also must have felt but did not express.

Aaron’s sons were precious to him. He must have wondered why God did not protect them rather than kill them.  Just as Macduff was emotionally torn, Aaron too might have thought that were it not for Aaron’s role as High Priest his sons might still be alive. Or perhaps Aaron was still anguished over the incident of the golden calf. Either way, it is natural for us to imagine what we did wrong that led to our families’ harm.

Both Torah and Shakespeare have me thinking about the parents of the hostages. I wonder about their conversations with Heaven. Do they bargain with God for safe returns or lash out against the God that should have protected their child? Or do they blame themselves? Perhaps they ask if we did not live near Gaza, or if we did not live in Israel, would this have happened to our child?

Macduff’s speech reminds me that the captives are not the only hostages. Their parents also are held hostage by fear, anguish, and doubt.  These are the words of Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Israeli American Hostage.

“I have learned there are no appropriate words in any language to describe the excruciating, throat-constricting dread I feel at all times from having my only son stolen from me.  I have learned that I can pretend to be a person when all I want to do is disappear . . . I may be small but I can, and will, do whatever it takes to get my son back. I have learned that my love for my beautiful Hersh continues to grow each day.”

May God rescue all of them just as God rescued Hebrews from captivity before.

Rabbi Evan J. Krame