During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, I was a young soldier who had just enlisted.
After a month of training, I was assigned to the Northern Command for a very important role. One day, we received the long-awaited news: Our soldiers who had been taken captive in Syria were finally coming home.
I was only 18 years old, but I already understood how cruel wars are and the unbearable price they demand. The night before their return, I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I couldn’t close my eyes.
Two weeks ago, I found myself transported back to being that same emotional 18-year-old soldier.
This time, however, it was the release of five female soldiers, six civilians, and five foreign workers, freed in stages. Today—Thursday—two members of Kibbutz Nir Oz, who had been held captive by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, were finally released. We had no information about them until now. Their kibbutz suffered one of the worst blows in October 2023.
In the midst of this unimaginable pain, one uplifting and beautiful truth shines through: the people of Israel.
It is worth being in Israel right now, just to witness how citizens of this country react. The excitement, the tears, the way they glue themselves to TV screens, pause work, and fill the streets—just to share the sense of “togetherness” in these moments.
What incredible citizens we have.
What a remarkable nation we belong to.
What inner strength we possess.
The Jewish people have endured pogroms, expulsions, and tragedies but have always prevailed—thanks to resilience, wisdom, and mutual support. These qualities have carried us through the ages and will undoubtedly accompany us into the future.
We are a nation of heroes.
A nation that never abandons its wounded or fallen.
A nation that demonstrates immense courage, integrity, and a willingness to risk everything to help one another. Our strength isn’t just physical; it’s deeply emotional and spiritual.
How fortunate we are to be part of this people.
And how blessed we are that they are now back home.
Now, we wait for the return of every last captive—living and fallen.
So here I am, feeling the same excitement I felt in 1973 as a young soldier, just starting my journey. But now, at 70, as a grandmother, my heart also carries a deep sadness. I never imagined that such a tragedy, even worse than the Yom Kippur War, would befall us again.
One of the soldiers who was released from captivity today said a powerful and touching sentence: “Through faith, I was born, and through faith, I returned.” I believe no words need to be added.
May we know only days of peace and hope.
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