Resident ends emotional no-shave commitment for Israeli hostages

I felt like I needed to do something in solidarity with the Bibas boys, on behalf of all hostages.”

James Lapin, Riverdale resident

It was a very emotional week for a longtime Riverdale resident who vowed not to shave until two Israeli children hostages kidnapped by Hamas were released. Instead, they were reported dead.

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 nine-month-old infant, Kfir Bibas and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas – two young Israeli hostages captured by the Palestinian terrorist group during the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks in 2023.

Nearly a year and a half after they had been kidnapped, Lapin learned the two children, along with their mother, Shiri Bibas, 33 and longtime Israeli journalist, Oded Lifshitz, 83, were officially declared deceased on Feb. 19.

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, according to several media reports. However, upon their return, it was confirmed by Israeli military that one of the bodies was not of Shiri Bibas as Hamas indicated.

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 were returned back to Israel.

“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 the Gaza War ceasefire involving a hostages-and-prisoners exchange agreed upon by Israel and Hamas last month, according to BBC.

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

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

Following the news released on Feb. 20 confirming the deaths of the two children, Lapin reflected on the “emotional” and “difficult” chapter which didn’t have a happy ending after holding out hope nearly 500 days after the children and their mother were kidnapped.

“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 movement “Beards4Bibas” began after participating in several weekly “Run 4 Their Lives” marches, which are held every Sunday in Riverdale, to acknowledge captives who were kidnapped by Hamas.

Lapin’s wife, Ann Lapin, said she doesn’t care for 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 for more than 15 years.

“The beard that he grew, carrying the Bibas family with him, was a public display of the kind of support James offered for the cause,” Ann Lapin said.

As of Feb. 21, it was reported there were more than five dozen captives still being held hostage along the Gaza Strip.

An announcement on Feb. 21 confirmed six more Israeli hostages had been released by Hamas.