Empty Chairs, Broken Hearts: The Torah’s Response to Kidnapping and Loss

Empty Chair, Broken Promises

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In this deeply moving episode of Torah from Boca, Rabbi David Baum reflects on a powerful moment from his visit to Israel’s Library of Congress, where empty chairs, each holding a hostage’s favorite book, bear witness to the ongoing tragedy of October 7th.

Through the devastating story of the Bibas family and the Torah’s unflinching condemnation of kidnapping in Parashat Mishpatim, this episode explores how Jewish tradition demands justice, recognizes the long echoes of trauma, and offers a path forward in the face of unimaginable grief.

Join us in an act of witnessing—because in Jewish tradition, to bear witness is not passive. It is a call to action, to memory, and to hope.