INDIANAPOLIS — “People on the streets are smiling and happy, and there’s a general feeling of lightness and relief at the fact that the hostages are back home,” said a North Central High School graduate living in Israel.

It was hard for Marc Swatez to go to sleep Sunday night, watching the news and waiting for the 20 remaining living Israeli hostages to be released by Hamas .

The CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis described the last few days as “pins and needles” watching the ceasefire unfold.

“This is really going to happen,” Swatez said. “It seemed like it was and it was still hard to digest.”

Swatez recalled watching the freed hostages reunite with their families and the feeling of joy, but said it’s still a challenging time for Jewish people.

“When we’re standing

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