Kfir and Ariel, the adorable red-head Bibas children, and their mother Shiri, have been top of mind for those concerned with the hostages Hamas kidnapped from Israel in the attack of October 7th, especially in this last week when their bodies/remains were exchanged for the release of terror prisoners in this Phase I of this mid-winter 2025 ceasefire.
The Bibas story kept getting worse, sadder and sadder, as their story unfolded, and more details released, and it has been an especially difficult time for many concerned about them and all that they represent.
The boys names are Kfir (the 10-month-old) and Ariel (the 4-year-old who liked Batman). Both names mean lion. Kfir = young lion cub, and Ariel = Lion of G-d. So in all this horrible story of terror destroying three generations of the same family, including the youngest children, in barbaric horrific ways – somehow, somewhere, in all this, there’s lions. There’s strength.
The one needing the most strength is Yarden, the sole-survivor of his family – having lost his wife and her parents, and his two children – all to Hamas terror. May he muster the strength to continue!
It’s interesting that biblical Hebrew has so many words for lion: Ari = male lion, Lavie – female lion, Gur = baby lion, Kfir = lion cub. And maybe others I missed? But having so many names for the same animal indicates how important the lion is in Judaism. And many Jews and Israelis have lion-based names!
If you’ve ever opened a book of Talmud, of any tractate of Talmud, you’ll notice the “gate-page” in front has two lions crouched on top. And often Torah Ark covers had lions depicted on them as well. The Shul of my childhood did. I still remember the colorful “gemstone” eyes of the lions and their curly embroidered tails.
You might have seen or heard of the two famous lions, named Patience and Fortitude by NYC Mayor LaGuardia, adorning the Fifth Avenue Main Entrance to the New York Public Library. It is fitting to mention, on this Shabbat when the Jewish people lost these two lions: Ariel and Kfir Bibas, because in two weeks time, our Mega Shabbat at UAlbany, our “Shabbat 360” will be held in the basement of UAlbany’s Main Library. We’re calling it “A Shabbat for the Books!”
This is a time to come out to celebrate being Jewish, to observe Shabbat as a campus community. It is a time for inner-strength. UAlbany may not have Library Lions, but we will be surrounded by Lions of G-d.
May Kfir and Ariel Bibas, and their mother Shiri, may their memories be a blessing.