Yesterday, I cried tears of joy as I saw the first images of Agam Berger, hugging her parents Shlomi & Meirav.
Agam along with two other hostages were released today by the terrorists, in the ransom exchange for and with murderers.
The chaotic scenes and screams of hate and murder that surrounded the other two hostages, were a reminder of what a miracle of life, each one of these hostages are.
When I was in Agam's house in May, it was so painful and hard to even imagine how she would come back. Yet her parents Meirav and Shlomi were full of hope and faith and kept encouraging us to get others to do more prayers and good deeds in her and the other hostages merit.
We chatted with her sisters and brother and saw what an amazing family they all were. I tear up every time I think of her being able to go to sleep tonight surrounded by the loving and warm embrace of her family, instead of the dark tunnels full of terrorists where she has been.
Agam wrote a message which she shared with the world from the helicopter, which states, "In the path of faith, I have chosen, and with the path of faith I have returned. Thank you to all of the Jewish people, and to the heroes of the IDF, there is no one like you in the world".
Agam had been trying to keep Shabbat even in the tunnels of Gaza and refrained from eating meat as it wasn't Kosher. Apparently she found an old prayer book leftover by an IDF soldier somewhere and used it to pray.
Agam also made the braids in the hair for the other hostages before they left, so that they would feel and look good when they saw their families for the first time.
Agam was a princess of dignity, holiness and faith, in a place swarming with murderers, and we pray that her recovery along with the recovery of each one of the released hostages, be a full one in every sense.
Listening to Agam's mother Meirav talk to the world today, was another scene of positivity and faith. Meirav started off with the first line of the Shema, and then said I have one word to say "Todah", and she then said thank you to G-d, and thank you to all the people of Israel, and the entire Jewish world who have rallied behind them and embraced them. Meirav said that the list of people to thank is so big, but she wants to name a few, with Chabad being the first that she gave thanks to.
הוֹדוּ לַה' כִּי טוֹב, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ
We have been in touch with Liam, Agam's sister, who responded to what we could get for Agam, with perhaps some giftcards from her favorite clothing stores. We have arranged through a mutual friend who will be visiting them on Sunday, to bring some very significant gift cards for her favorite stores, and also matching gift cards for her three siblings who have endured so much over the last few months. We will also include a letter from our community and some personal messages.
This week's Torah portion describes the final moments of the Jewish people's suffering in Egypt, and the first moments of freedom that they had waited so long for. A truly fitting reading for the news of the week.
The Midrash on this story, tell us repeatedly that it was the Jewish women who became the heroines of the story again and again. Whether it was midwifes who refused orders to murder babies as they answer to a higher calling, the women who gave hope to their families to hold on to faith even in the darkest of moments, or to the women in general who are considered to be the ones who helped maintain the focus and clarity of faith and hope of the Jewish people, in those very dark moments.
Agam, Arbel and all of the women being released, along with all the others, and of course their mothers, have given Israel such a shot in the arm of encouragement, hope and faith, that we will overcome and things will G-d willing be better.
Please read below for a message from Avi Ohana for our community (the father of the hostage Yosef Chaim Ohana).
Praying for Israel to get back every last one of the hostages and for an end to all the suffering.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel