As the former hostages are readjusting to their new lives back home in Israel, stories of faith and hope and encouragement are coming forth. To be sure, what these people experienced was hell on earth, but they clung to their faith in G-d (some finding it for the first time) and the hope of their rescue. This helped to sustain them through the darkest times.

I am currently reading the recently released book, Hostage, by Eli Sharabi. He was held in Gaza for 491 days- almost two years, not knowing that his wife, children, brother, and most of his entire family had been brutally murdered. His one goal was to survive the ordeal. Last week, he buried his brother, Yossi, also taken captive, but returned by Hamas in a coffin. But that is not where the story ends.

Eli has resolved to live. After grieving the loss of his loved ones, he is putting the past behind him. To live the life G-d gave him. Eli has been active advocating for the release of the other captives, and now the bodies that remain in Gaza. This past week, he appeared on the runway at Israeli Fashion Week in Tel Aviv, and has a new girlfriend – his physical therapist. He has been doing countless interviews. Here is a clip from one of them-

https://youtube.com/shorts/4YZp-Ks-tZ0?si=RCIkhd0NCgOZoZpZ

Alon Ohel was actually a “neighbor” of ours. We didn’t know him, but he is from Misgav, the next mountain over. He was released with the other 20 after exactly two years of captivity. A gifted pianist and musician, Ohel, now 24, was held for a time with Eli Sharabi, who was an immense support to him. Alon was severely injured while being taken into Gaza front the Nova festival. He still has shrapnel in his eye and head. His time in the tunnels was especially devastating, spending the last seven months in absolute isolation.

Upon his return home, the entire community lined the streets, waving Israeli flags. Hundreds of people stood outside the family home singing to him. t this past week, he made an appearance on national TV, playing piano and singing with many popular stars here in Israel. It was a moment of pure joy.

https://youtube.com/shorts/TKjBSZD9Ajk?si=MeBQczkW02djjf1a

Bar Kulershtein shared that every Friday evening “underground, beneath the most impure place in the world, we were screaming from the soul and singing praises to the creator of the universe. We would rock the tunnel with our songs for Kabbalat Shabbat. “Shalom Aleichem” and “Lecha Dodi.” We would close our eyes and imagine our loved ones were all present with us at the Shabbat table.” The 21 year old was working as a security guard for the Nova festival. He refused to abandon his post as a guard and paramedics. Bar helped many youth to evacuate the party and stayed behind to nurse the wounded.

Despite being starved, beaten and tortured, he remained strong. He told his mom: “Mom. They beat me but I didn’t feel it – my body was frozen. I trained my mind not to think about the pain.” He never lost hope or faith during the long ordeal. In the tunnels, he dug waste pits, built a little water channel and made a small area where the other hostages he was with could sit alone. He took upon himself the mitzvah of charity. He vowed the 200 shekels he saved in his wallet at home would be donated as soon as he was rescued.

He was not especially religious in his adult life, despite his Modern Orthodox upbringing. Yet, in the tunnels, deep underground he encountered Muslims who prayed five times a day and fasted and observed all their Muslim holidays. Bar told himself that if they are doing that, if they are trying to convince him with bribes to become Muslim,then he would become close to his Creator. He would say the Shema often, and recite all the Psalms he knew by heart.

Former hostage, Matan’s Zangauker miraculously found a worn book of Psalms written in Hebrew on the floor of one of the tunnels. He used it for daily prayer, and credits his faith in *-d for keeping him alive. Besides requesting a tsitsit (fringed undershirt) to wear, one of the first things he did was to don a Kipa and wrap Tfillin on his arm and head and say the Birkat haGomel prayer in thanks for G-d’s deliverance from a life threatening event.

One of the most poignant reunions captured on video was that of Bar reuniting with his father. His dad had suffered a stroke prior to 7October attack. He was paralyzed on one side and unable to walk or talk. He vowed to stand to meet his son when Bar returned home. After two grueling years of rehab, Mr. Kupershtein, with the aid of a walker, rose from his chair and walked over to Bar to embrace him. This was a tremendous gift to everyone.

Beautiful young Agam Berger was one of the seven female captives taken from her army base as a surveillance soldier. Both she and her family, found great strength and deep meaning in keeping their Jewish faith traditions alive. Agam was an inspiration to her fellow hostages, refusing to eat non Kosher foods, keeping the Shabbat, saying her daily prayers, singing to her captors like David sung to King Saul.

Upon her return to Israel, riding in an army helicopter last year, Agam held up a sign that in Hebrew said, “I chose a path of faith and have returned through faith. There is none other/higher than G-d.”

Three weeks after her kidnapping, Agam’s mother had the rabbi bring a Torah scroll into her bedroom. They converted the first floor entrance of their apartment complex into a makeshift synagogue where they held regular services.

Eitan Horn, 37, taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz says that he knew when Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year, took place. He fasted for the first time in his life while in the tunnels.

We cannot begin to fathom the suffering and pain they endured. Yet for all of Israel, every single hostage is a hero just simply for surviving those unimaginable horrors. Even though we celebrate the beauty of renewed lives, their individual pathways to recovery will be difficult. While it is amazing and wonderful that some hostages felt the presence and protection of G-d, others found different sources of strength. Some just clung on one day to the next. Some survivors are giving interviews and speaking openly about their ordeals. Others cannot even begin to open up….and we respect that.

Each freed hostage, each family, has been given a special team of therapists and trauma specialists to help them readjust. All are finding love and healing inm the arms of family. Many have had seudot hodayot, or meals of thanksgiving with all the extended families. Shabbat has become an integral part of their reentry into the world. It has been healing for all to sit at table together thanking their Creator and feasting on comfort food.

https://www.tiktok.com/@noatishby/video/7466157908170984735?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

May we hear only good news. May those that have been returned continue to find renewal, healing and comfort despite the difficult journey ahead. May they resume their lives stronger, kinder, more patient and loving and much wiser. May their days be happy and successful. May they be filled with love and light.