‘Beards for Bibas’ meets tragic end

It was an emotional week for a longtime Riverdale resident who vowed not to shave until two Israeli children hostages kidnapped by Hamas were released. Instead, their bodies were returned to Israel.

James Lapin, who has lived in Riverdale for the past 25 years, began his no-shave journey in January 2024 as he advocated for the release of Kfir Bibas, a 9-month-old infant, and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas, two of the more than 240 hostages kidnapped by Gazan terrorists during their Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel.

On Feb. 19, more than 500 days after they had been kidnapped, the two children, along with their mother, Shiri Bibas, 33, and longtime Israeli journalist, Oded Lifshitz, 83, were officially declared deceased.

Despite the long-held hope that the young hostages were alive, Hamas announced they had been killed a month after their kidnapping. Four bodies were returned to Israel the next day.

Lapin, who shaved his beard later that evening, explained his decision not to shave his facial hair or cut the hair on his head was a way to be connected to the Bibas boys until the two children returned home.

“I felt like I needed to do something in solidarity with the Bibas boys, on behalf of all hostages — and the hostages don’t have access to barber shops,” Lapin said.

The father of the boys, Yarden Bibas, was released on Feb. 1 as part of a Gaza ceasefire involving a hostages-and-prisoners exchange agreed upon by Israel and Hamas last month.

Lapin, who got a haircut when the first hostages were returned on Jan. 19, continued to let his beard grow while monitoring developments.

“I was constantly checking for updates on released hostages, but I was reminded of the situation every time I would look in the mirror,” Lapin said.

Following the news released on Feb. 20, Lapin reflected on the “emotional” and “difficult” chapter which didn’t have a happy ending after holding out hope that the children and their mother would return.

“It’s sad it had to end this way, but there’s also a relief of knowing I can let go of the constant anxiety of thinking, ‘are they dead,’ ‘are they alive,’ and ‘when will they be brought back home,’ he said.

Lapin, now sporting a five o’clock shadow, said the inspiration for his “Beards4Bibas” movement began after participating in several weekly “Run 4 Their Lives” marches, which are held every Sunday in Riverdale, to acknowledge the captives kidnapped by Hamas.

Lapin said his wife, Ann Lapin, doesn’t like facial hair but “understands the premise of the beard.”

“It’s difficult to process the trauma, especially when it’s all the time, so I’m relieved in a way that this chapter seems to be over,” he said.

Last year, Lapin received a community service award from Bronx Community Board 8 for hosting Friday night dinners at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale (the Bayit) for more than 15 years.

As of last Thursday, it was reported that five dozen captives were still believed to be held hostage in Gaza.