INDIANAPOLIS– In a powerful display of remembrance and unity, nearly 200 community members gathered last night for With Broken Hearts, We Stand Together, an evening dedicated to honoring the lives of Oded Lifshitz, Shiri Bibas, and her two young sons, Ariel (4) and Kfir (10 months), who were murdered in captivity.
Local rabbis, cantors, and Israeli community members led attendees in prayers and songs, offering solace in the face of tragedy. The program was both a space for mourning and a call to action, ensuring that the names of the 63 hostages still held in Gaza—many of whom are feared dead—are never forgotten.
“This evening was about more than grief—it was a reaffirmation of our shared responsibility to remember, to speak out, and to demand action,” said Marc Swatez, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI). “We stand together as a community, honoring those who have been taken from us and holding onto hope for those who remain in captivity.”
“We refuse to let these names fade from our consciousness,” added Eli Isaacs, President of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC). “Their lives matter, and we will continue to pray, to advocate, and to fight for their safe return.”
As voices joined in prayer and song, the evening became a testament to a community’s resilience that will not be silent in the face of suffering. The gathering underscored an ongoing commitment to healing amidst the calls to “bring them home now.”
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