Esther Sperber
Key Leader of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York
A) What qualities make the nominee deserving of the Z3 Bridge Builder Award?
Esther Sperber has been a key leader of the all-volunteer Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York since its founding, leading outreach to the Jewish community. The Forum has brought together a broad coalition of the Jewish community to attend weekly runs in Central Park, rallies at the UN and events commemorating significant milestones of the hostages’ captivity, such as the 100th, 150th and 180th days. The Forum also plans and schedules the meetings of the delegations of released hostages and families of hostages when they visit New York. Esther has built relationships with leaders across the community that help the organization to be nimble in shining a spotlight on the hostages. After the tragic recent news of the murders of six hostages, beginning at 2 am on Sunday morning, September 1st, Esther was on her phone arranging speakers for a rally that drew 7,000 that same night in New York’s Columbus Circle.
In October 2023, when the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel reached out to a few Israeli organizers including Esther to help form a group to represent the families in New York, Esther spoke to Barry Rosen, the former press attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Iran, who himself was a hostage for 444 days in 1979-81, as depicted in the film "Argo." Barry, who has dedicated his life to advocating for the release of hostages, stressed that the most important need was to keep them in the public consciousness. Esther took this to heart and has been steadfast in maintaining the focus on the urgent need to release the hostages, which has kept the group’s appeal broad.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York, which has no paid staff, facilitates behind-the-scenes meetings between many delegations of families with the UN Secretary General and the American Red Cross and arranges appearances by families and released hostages on CNN, Fox, MSNBC and other major news outlets and the major Israeli media. The Forum also schedules speaking opportunities for the families of the hostages at synagogues, schools and JCCs in New York.
For its upcoming rally at the UN to be held during UN week, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York has been able to obtain the co-sponsorships of over 100 organizations, including Aipac, J Street, AJC, Orthodox Union, Rabbinical Assembly, Union for Reform Judaism and the Israeli Scouts, and anticipates over 10,000 participants. Esther has helped the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York earn the trust of established Jewish organizations and it is partnering with UJA and the Jewish Community Relations Council in organizing the official New York community commemoration of of the first anniversary of October 7th.
Following are some accolades offered by community leaders in New York about Esther’s tireless volunteer efforts:
“Esther Sperber has relentlessly advocated for the hostage families in the last eleven months, bringing together the Jewish community of New York from every community: Orthodox and Reform, Israeli and American, Observant and secular. Her tent is wide, with a singular mission of uniting our community in common cause – to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel. She does this on top of her more than full-time job, from her sense of obligation that Kol Yisrael Arevim zeh bazeh [All Israel are responsible for one another].” – Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Central Synagogue
“Esther's deep, personal care for the plight of the hostages is evident in everything she has done over the past 11 months. Her compassion, strength, and tireless advocacy through the Hostages and Families Forum have built bridges across communities, ensuring that the voices of those in captivity remain heard and their freedom remains a priority for all. This, coupled with her ability to get things done, and to access those in power with clarity of purpose and sheer will, is remarkable and admirable.” – Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, Principal, SAR Academy
As did her biblical namesake, Esther Sperber has stepped up to the calling of the hour – leading us in these dark times and putting the needs and well-being of our people above all else.” – Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, Ph.D., Park Avenue Synagogue
“Esther Sperber has been an inspiring and courageous leader, bringing together American and Israeli Jews, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and totally secular Jews in the urgent crisis of bringing the hostages home. We should all be grateful for her leadership.” – Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, Congregation Ansche Chesed
“Esther is truly a bridge between Israeli and American Jews, honoring the ways in which we have shared commitments but sometimes different tactics. Within her activism, Esther always advocates for the diversity and complexity of all, holding the humanity of religious/secular, Palestinian/Israeli, and those with different political viewpoints. In this way she embodies the true meaning of being a rodef shalom [seeker of peace]” – Rabbi Joanna Samuels, Chief Executive Officer, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
B) In what ways has the nominee demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their work in bridging divides?
Esther Sperber has been tireless in advocating for the release of the hostages and for keeping their plight in the public discourse. She has earned the trust of a broad range of Jewish leaders including rabbis, Jewish Day School leaders, elected officials, JCC staff and the many Jewish nonprofits that co-sponsored these events.
Not only has Esther’s work with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York brought together Jews who rarely attend the same events; she has also created a bridge between the Israeli community in the United States and the wider American Jewish community and its organizations.
New York and New Jersey have large communities of Israelis who, although living in the United States, do not always feel comfortable in traditional Jewish communal gathering spaces such as synagogues and day schools. The personal and national trauma of October 7 left many Israeli Americans feeling worried and alone. Through the events of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York, many of these Israelis have found a supportive community and a shared sense of mission.
Esther was also able to be a bridge between the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, whose other core leaders are secular Israelis, and the American Jewish network of synagogues and schools. She has been able to bring Orthodox, Conservative and Reform rabbis, cantors and leaders to speak at rallies or share prayers. While it can be challenging to incorporate religious rituals and liturgy in a way that feels welcoming and meaningful to secular Jews, Esther has helped shape programs that strike this balance.
Among the many events Esther has been instrumental in organizing:
October 24, Central Synagogue - First public U.S. event with families of hostages, including Rachel
Goldberg and Jon Polin, Ruby Chen and Moshe LaviOctober - JCC Manhattan Singing Circle
November 7 - Rodeph Shalom Synagogue, Communal Shloshim with Reform, Conservative and Orthodox religious leaders
November 20 - first of weekly Run for Their Lives in Central Park; 300-1,500 participants each Sunday
December 4 - Rally in front of the UN on violence against women
January 12 - 100th Days really at the UN, speakers including NY Governor Kathy Hochul
February 4 - UJA and JCRC congressional breakfast, focusing on the hostages
March 10 - Marking 150 days, Central Park Bandshell, 5,000 participants
March 11 - in front of UN Women - Believe Israeli Women rally
March 24 - Purim, focusing on the Bibas family, Central Park
April 7 - Six Month rally at the UN, featuring Rachel Goldberg and former Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett
June 2 - Celebrate Israel Parade - leading the parade with 70 families of hostages and 4,000 marchers
August 1 - organized letter on behalf of the hostages signed by over 200 rabbis of all denominations
September 1 - Vigil after murder of six hostages, 7,000 participants in New York’s Columbus Circle
October 7 - Official New York communal observance of anniversary, Central Park
C) How has the nominee's work impacted the Jewish community and beyond?
Esther's tireless advocacy, clarity of purpose, boundless energy and humility on behalf of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in New York have helped the New York Jewish community find ways to keep the plight of the hostages at the forefront of the public consciousness and to find hope, comfort and inspiration in coming together as a community seeking the hostages' release from captivity.