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Dozens of members of a church group from Salem, Massachusetts, have returned from Israel safely after their trip was disrupted by Hamas' deadly attack.

Thirty-two parishioners from the Immaculate Conception Church had been in Israel to tour holy sites since the Friday before the attack, which has sparked on going war in the region.

"We are grateful and blessed to be back in Boston in the safety of our home and to be united again with our family and friends. We thank God for his goodness to us and for all the assistance, support and prayers from our family and friends and the people of our parish, the leadership team, the priests, and people of our Archdiocese and beyond," said Rev. Robert Murray, pastor of the Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish, in a statement. "All the time we were there, whether in the immediate area of violence or the relative safety of Nazareth, to our brief stay in Amman Jordan, we knew from communication and confident faith that many were praying and helping us to return home safely."

"At this time, we ask for some privacy so that we can reunite with our families, rest, and rejoin our faith community in prayers of thanksgiving," he added.

5:01

Salem church group looks to get out of Israel as people in Mass. decry violence

President Joe Biden has vowed to support Israel following Hamas' attacks this weekend.

People with U.S. and other foreign passports are stranded in Gaza. Some went to the Rafah border Saturday after officials announced they reached an agreement with Egypt and Israel to allow Americans to pass through safely between noon and 5 p.m.

But people who got word of this agreement from the U.S. State Department say they were there all day and nothing happened. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to Cairo and expected to speak there Sunday.

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People coming from Tel Aviv to Boston Sunday morning said local airlines like Delta are unreliable and keep canceling flights, while international airlines like El Al are doing a better job of making sure their customers get back home safely. Many of them say they could hear the Iron Dome missile defense system shooting down rockets while waiting for their flight in the Tel Aviv airport.

Members of the Salem church group were expected to share more about what they went through later Sunday. NBC10 Boston had previously spoken to parishioner Mary Martinez from Nazareth .

"We saw the missiles and explosions, but they were far from us," Martinez said in Spanish. "We got out of there and yesterday evacuated to come here."

"There are a lot of people panicking, and some don't want to go outside," she continued. "Most of us are calm, confident in God, that we will leave here."

The congregation had been in touch with Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, about their situation.

I would love to write a column offering random thoughts on the Red Sox front office search, but I must respectfully decline out of considerations to my family...

Where to start? How about here -- was there even remotely a plan? When the Mets decided to reorganize their front office, everyone in baseball knew they had former Brewers general manager David Stearns, a New York City native, in their sights. They hired him before the season even ended. He fired manager Buck Showalter, and his arrival allowed predecessor Billy Eppler to slink away in the midst of an MLB investigation over manipulation of the injured list.

The Red Sox clearly had no plan beyond, "Fire Chaim Bloom." If Mike Hazen was their target, they probably should've known better, because the last time they had an opening, he immediately received a contract extension in Arizona. With his Diamondbacks in the middle of the National League Championship Series, history repeated itself, but Hazen was never going anywhere.

Back channels exist for a reason, and it feels like the Red Sox didn't use them. So now they're scrambling. ...

Want to know why so many candidates are declining the opportunity to interview? Start with John Henry. The Red Sox owner has alienated a lot of good baseball people over the years, and it turns out they talk.

We all know how things ended with Theo Epstein a dozen years ago, and the frostiness of that relationship is reflected in the lack of interest his lieutenants have demonstrated in either of the last two job openings, whether it's Hazen, Arizona assistant Amiel Sawdaye, or Cubs president Jed Hoyer.

It's not just Theo, though. Former Astros GM James Click seemed like a natural candidate after a year in exile in Toronto, but he chose to remain with the Blue Jays rather than interview in Boston. It just so happens that he's extremely close with Bloom, his former co-worker in Tampa. Think the deposed chief baseball officer had anything nice to say about working for Henry? (Or with manager Alex Cora, for that matter?)

And in a similar vein, Phillies general manager Sam Fuld has spent the last three years working closely alongside Dave Dombrowski, Bloom's deposed predecessor, who took his Red Sox ouster personally, coming less than a year after winning the World Series. He now has the Phillies positioned to win it all.

Dombrowski is a future Hall of Famer who is known for being forthright and direct. Whatever his feelings on working for Henry and the Red Sox, I have little doubt he relayed them clearly to Fuld.

Whatever the opposite of a coaching tree is, that's what Henry has cultivated. It's a loathing tree, and its roots are spreading. ...

One exec taking some undeserved heat is longtime Red Sox assistant Raquel Ferreira. She told The Boston Globe that she won't interview for the job out of family considerations, prompting criticism that she wouldn't have to move, so what's there to consider? Come on. First off, the No. 1 job requires longer hours. Secondly, not everyone must aspire to run the show. ...

If the Red Sox keep the search internal, Eddie Romero is the obvious choice, because of his long-time service, his experience in the international markets, his prominence in the organization, the fact that he's bilingual, etc. More than one team source has described him as ready for the role. The big question is if he has Henry's confidence, and on the count, the picture is less clear. ...

They haven't all said no. Twins GM Thad Levine interviewed, as did former Red Sox reliever Craig Breslow, whom AP style mandates I must refer to as a Yale grad. Breslow is a fascinating candidate, thanks to his much-publicized work developing pitchers in Chicago, although the timing doesn't feel quite right, given his lack of day-to-day experience.

The problem is, if the Red Sox offer him a GM role under a president of baseball operations with the idea of grooming him for the big chair, they leave the door open for the Cubs to offer him a promotion from his current assistant role to stay.

My thoughts: If you believe Breslow will eventually be the guy, don't wait around. Take the plunge.

This Red Sox GM candidate who reportedly interviewed might surprise you originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox seem to be having some trouble finding an experienced front office executive to lead their baseball operations.

A decade ago, this scenario would have seemed unfathomable based on the fact that the Red Sox are a big-market team that likes to spend money. Winning in Boston means more than just about everywhere else in the sport.

But that hasn't stopped several notable candidates in various roles throughout Major League Baseball from turning down interviews with the Red Sox or choosing to remain with their current team.

The list is staggering, frankly.

So, what will the Red Sox do?

Well, they have at least given some consideration to an outside-the-box hire. Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reported Friday, citing major league sources, that former Giants and Phillies manager Gabe Kapler has interviewed with the Red Sox "about leading their baseball operations department."

Kapler's only front office experience came from 2014 through 2017 when he was the farm system director for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Most of his MLB experience has been as a player or manager. He played for six teams over 12 seasons from 1998 to 2010, including three-plus seasons with the Red Sox from the middle of 2003 through 2006.

Kapler was the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and 2019. The Phillies failed to make the playoffs in both seasons. He was the manager of the San Francisco Giants from 2020 until he was fired earlier this month. Kapler's Giants finished .500 or worse in three of his four seasons in charge. The 2021 Giants won 107 games but lost in the National League Division Series.

Kapler perhaps could do the job, but the Red Sox tried an inexperience head of baseball ops last time when they hired Chaim Bloom. It didn't work out. The best move would be to bring someone in with more front office experience, a person who has made bold trades and knows what it's like facing the high expectations that come from working in a big market.

Maybe the Red Sox won't have a choice if all of the more experienced candidates turn them down. But they should at least try pursuing all of those candidates before turning to a less-experienced one.

Nothing is imminent in the Boston Red Sox’s search for a new head of baseball operations. According to multiple people with knowledge of the process, the Red Sox have yet to move into the second round of interviews and are not particularly close to making an offer to anyone. It’s believed that none of the candidates have yet interviewed with principal owner John Henry.

But the pool of candidates is coming into clearer focus.

Two people familiar with the process told The Athletic that former big-league manager Gabe Kapler is among those who have interviewed for the opening. Kapler spent the past six seasons as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants, and before that he served as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ director of player development. Kapler would be an outside-the-box hire as an analytics-minded former player who’s never held one of the top two seats in baseball operations. “The Boston Globe” was the first to report his involvement.

A more obvious fit for the job, former Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng, declined to interview for the Red Sox job, according to additional people with knowledge of the situation. Ng, the first female general manager in the four major North American sports, stepped down as Marlins GM earlier this week. MassLive was the first to report Ng’s decision to not pursue the Red Sox job, and she’s not the first to do so.

“The Boston Globe” reported Wednesday that another former general manager, James Click, withdrew his name from consideration after talking to the Red Sox. Click works in the Toronto Blue Jays front office and last year won the World Series as general manager of the Houston Astros. Click reportedly withdrew “in deference to family considerations,” which is believed also to be a driving factor for some other high-profile candidates — Phillies GM Sam Fuld, Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes, Tampa Bay Rays advisor Jon Daniels — who declined to interview for the job.

Among the others known to be in consideration are assistant general manager Eddie Romero — believed by many to be the favorite among internal candidates — as well as Chicago Cubs assistant general manager Craig Breslow and Minnesota Twins general manager Thad Levine. Former Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington also reportedly interviewed, though one major-league source downplayed the likelihood of him ending up with the job.

A person close to Breslow, and another close to Levine, described each as a strong candidate getting serious consideration. Breslow is said to be uninterested in a potential No. 2 job with the Red Sox. If he’s not selected for the top job, he seems more likely to stay with the Cubs than to accept a supporting role with the Red Sox.

Some in the industry believe other candidates whose identities are not yet known are also involved in the search process.

“The Boston Globe” reported that another Red Sox assistant general manager, Mike Groopman, and Red Sox vice president of amateur scouting and player development, Paul Toboni, are also among those who have interviewed. The Athletic was told both Groopman and Toboni were among the early targets for interviews, but it’s unclear where they stand. Groopman has a strong analytics background and has previously worked for the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers. Toboni came up through the Red Sox’s amateur scouting department and is considered one of the rising minds and voices within the organization.

Team president Sam Kennedy has left open the possibility of hiring both a head of baseball operations and a No. 2 in the department. While various sources have said initial interviews are clearly focused on the top job, it’s possible the Red Sox are also gathering information for a second-in-command or for an inner circle that could include a heightened scouting element. Romero, Toboni, vice president of scouting Mike Rikard, and vice president of scouting development and integration Gus Quattlebaum are among the notable scouting voices in the organization.

Kapler, 48, was a member of the Red Sox team that broke the franchise’s 86-year championship drought by winning the World Series in 2004. He played five more seasons in the major leagues — with a stint as a minor-league manager in the middle of that time — before retiring for good to work in television, then for three years in player development for the Dodgers, and most recently as manager of the Phillies (2018-19) and Giants (2020 until he was fired in September). Kapler is known for his appreciation for analytics and his outspoken views on health and nutrition. Kapler is almost universally painted as a unique voice within the sport, and his approach can be framed positively or negatively depending on the source.

“I don’t have one negative thing to say about Gabe Kapler,” Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said after Kapler was fired. “Not just as a person, but from a professional standpoint and during his time with us. He’s thoughtful, he’s creative, he’s incredibly hard-working. He’s loyal. He’s diligent. He’s really passionate about this game.”

— The Athletic’s Dan Hayes and Patrick Mooney contributed to this report.

(Top photo of Gabe Kapler: Sergio Estrada / USA Today)

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SAN JOSE, Calif. – Johnny Beecher won’t forget this Thursday night out West.

The rookie pivot registered his first career point – an assist on Brad Marchand’s game-opening goal – to help the Bruins to a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at SAP Center.

“It's pretty special to get the first one, especially getting an assist to a guy like that - top-20 Bruin of all time. Something to be able to tell my kids about one day,” said Beecher.

As he drifted back toward the blue line to fill the spot of Derek Forbort, who had pinched down the wall, Beecher fed Marchand by the top of the left-wing circle. Marchand then took a step toward the net and fired a wrister far-side over the glove of San Jose goalie Kaapo Kahkonen to put Boston up, 1-0, with 1:54 left in the first period.

“I just kind of hopped on there,” said Beecher. “[Matt Poitras] made an unbelievable play entering the zone and then an unselfish play, got the change as they got in the O-zone. Just kinda got out there, covered for the D – and whenever you get the puck on 63’s stick, good things happen.

“Happy to get the first one out of the way and happy to get the win.”

Beecher has also seen significant time on the penalty kill, including 1:52 of his 11:22 against the Sharks. The centerman’s strong stick at one point created a loose puck that he then sent through the neutral zone to Marchand for a shorthanded breakaway chance.

“It's huge. For myself, especially, that's how I'm gonna make it in this league and survive in this league,” said Beecher. “I’m gonna take a lot of pride in the 200-foot game and being able to help our team in that aspect. I think our kill has been pretty solid lately and hopefully we can keep it rolling.”

“It's huge knowing that they have that trust in me, and then take a lot ownership on myself just to get the job done. This league can humble you pretty quick. Just making sure you cross your T's and dot your I'd when you're out there and you're getting the little things right, but it feels awesome to be able to put out there.”

JVR Stays Hot

James van Riemsdyk doubled the Bruins lead just 21 seconds after Marchand’s goal when he notched his third in the last two games. The winger crashed the net and was able to push a loose puck over the goal line to make it 2-0.

“I think we were just in good spots offensively, just trying to support each other,” said van Riemsdyk. “That was kind of just what I saw on that. I mean, throw it to the net and we're able to get some get some whacks. Was fortunate it went in.”

The play began when Charlie Coyle drove hard to the net and circled the cage. The pivot then fed the puck to the net-front where Trent Frederic redirected it toward Kahkonen.

“I thought we had some good chemistry. I thought we had some good zone time, some good shifts. So I thought it was a good start,” said van Riemsdyk. “[Coyle’s] definitely a horse in the offensive zone with the puck like that. Draws the extra guy to him, so there's lots of open ice out there and that's kind of what happened on the goal.

“He had a lot eyes on him and we were able to find some soft ice and get a couple extra whacks at it.”

Coach Jim Montgomery said the new-look trio of van Riemsdyk, Coyle, and Frederic “had a tremendous impact.”

“I thought Charlie was dominant tonight and I thought his two linemates owned the middle of the front of the net,” said Montgomery. “I thought that second goal really was an exclamation mark of what I think that line can be.”

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