A Weekly Horror Show

My Shabbats’ routine is repeating itself these days: I am usually glued to the screen for long hours, waiting for the next photo or update to appear.

It begins in the morning, with the setup of a staged scene in Gaza, designed by Hamas to project a sense of control. Banners with Hebrew slogans – often with typos – hung around the stage. Last week, the set included a picture of a fist with six (!) fingers, interesting when you recall the description of some Philistine warriors in 2 Samuel 21:18-22. Was this simply a mistake of a careless artist, or an intentional act?

^{Photo: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled}

Then starts a long wait until the white Hamas vehicles enter the frame. On our end we hold our breath. The door finally opens, sometimes after agonizing, endless minutes.

The Israeli media scrambles to identify which of the kidnapped is inside. Do they look like themselves? Are they on their feet? So far, yes… A brief sigh of relief. We can breathe.

Tears fill everyone’s eyes, including our news anchors, who by now are so familiar with the families and the story of each of those kidnapped. Some of these reporters were the only people families managed to reach on the phone on October 7th. They were calling from closets, bedrooms, or so-called safe rooms, when neither our army nor the police knew what to do.

The next phase of the Hamas horror show starts. They are masters in squeezing every possible opportunity to film and exploit the kidnapped, forcing them to express gratitude to their captors. One more opportunity for humiliation they are not going to miss.

At last, the kidnapped are handed over to the Red Cross. We endure another long wait… 30… 40 minutes… sometimes even an hour… until the Red Cross’ vans reach the IDF’s. Only then the Israeli media finally confirms: They are in Israeli hands.

An Empty Bosom

The cameras shift back and forth to the homes of those who are released that day, capturing their families oscillating between tears, joy, and fear. In these moments I usually pray that these relatives will lift their eyes to God. That they will thank Him, and catch a glimpse of His Face.

I also pray for the fabric of our national soul – for Israel the widow, who is longing and waiting to embrace her returning broken children. I pray that this moment will spark a national realization, of how desperately we need our Husband, how we are unable to fully protect our people on our own. The IDF and our leaders are simply not enough. We need Someone higher, greater (and no, I am not referring here to President Trump).

Next we wait for the IDF vehicles to cross the Re’im border point with Gaza, with the returning captives inside. Knowing they have been tormented by men all these months, most of them will be treated by female officers, doctors and nurses at the beginning. So a high-ranked female officer meets them, and assures them that they are home, that they are safe.

They undergo initial medical assessments – do they need emergency treatment? Should they be rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital or can they be flown to a better-equipped facility in central Israel?

Then they shower. Shave, if they want to. And at last, they will embrace a loved one. This is the image we all anticipate. When that moment finally airs, it shatters us to pieces.

I think of the bosoms of the mothers, fathers, children, who have been empty and aching since October 2023, longing for this moment. They just want to take a deep look into the eyes of the kidnapped, to touch their skin, smell them, check if they are sane, and assure them that they will never leave them again, that they are safe now, that they will be all right.

_{Sagui Dekel-Chen reunites with his wife and parents.
Watch how his dad hugs and kisses him… makes me wonder how God feels
when one of His children is set free from bondage and comes back home}

At this point I pray for God’s longing to be fulfilled, for His bosom to be filled with His children, that we will all run to His embrace. These moments give me a glimpse into centuries of pain and yearning that had filled our Abba’s heart towards His people. We, too, have been kidnapped – by our own ignorance and terrible choices.

Lord, turn our faces to You. Turn Your Face toward us. Show us Your longing and mercy. Forgive us, Abba, for failing to see the deep spiritual parallels in this nightmare. Have mercy on us, not according to what we deserve, but according to Your covenant with us.

This entire horror show goes on for six or seven hours. Through it all, millions here endure this same emotional roller coaster together. It creates a profound sense of solidarity, simply because we are all experiencing the same extreme emotions, even if we do not know each other.

For me, this is another opportunity to dive into the depths of our national soul, which is broken, yet full of hope. Mourning, yet rejoicing. Helpless, yet active. Worried, yet determined.

How Can This Be?

For months, our government has assured us that Hamas is weakening. They probably are, yet, there they stand – uniformed, armed, orchestrating the spectacle. How can that be? What will it take to finally get them our of the picture?

Hamas is not just an entity. It’s an ideology. An evil one, birthed in the pits and tunnels of hell. Changing or annihilating it requires long-term education and relentless efforts. It takes a different level of war. Such a sobering reality.

With Trump’s unprecedented declarations, that might happen. Perhaps the education system in Gaza will eventually lead to a generation that won’t be brain-washed. Hamas’ ideology is still around, but I choose to remember that Zionism has the upper hand. Simply because it is not just one more ideology. It’s not just a modern political movement. Zion is God’s throne. It’s a physical place with an eternal plan that was birthed in Heaven, and this is the one that will prevail.

No wonder most of the world opposes it.

The Restoration Starts

Kibbutz Be’eri is one of those who were pogromed on that day. It was the biggest in the region, with about 1,200 members. On October 7th, early 10% (101 members) were butchered. 31 kidnapped, including kids.

The surviving community moved to a hosting kibbutz in the region, who quickly built a new neighborhood for them, so they would still be together and support each other. Today, nearly 15 months later, 21 babies have been born in that community. In this season of Tu Bishvat – the Israeli annual day of tree-planting and a symbol of renewal and restoration – I rejoice as once more the enemy tried to annihilate us and sow chaos in this land, yet we are multiplying, and taking deep roots.

_{Four of the Be’ri babies born since October 7th (Picture credit: Hanoch Daum)}

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Small Stories That Tell The Big One

One of the first things Gadi Moses, 80, said on the day of his release from Hamas captivity, was: “I will do everything I can to rehabilitate my kibbutz.” Since he was discharged from the hospital a few days ago, he is constantly searching for nature, wanting to touch the soil, breathe the air of Israel again and focus on the future.

Gadi says he did not get sick even once during captivity. His captor, however, fell ill at some point, and Gadi found himself taking care of him. He could have taken his captor’s weapon and escape, but he didn’t know where he was or who would find him outside. So, he stayed and even gave a massage… to his captor.

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Sagui’s third daughter was born on his birthday, while he was in Hamas’ tunnels. On Saturday he met her for the first time, and heard her name – Shachar, meaning Dawn, in hope of a dawn of a new day.

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Ya’ir is a devout fan of the Be’er Sheva soccer team. Shortly after his release, when he climbed up the aircraft that would take him to the hospital, he asked the pilot to fly over the stadium.

It happened that a soccer match was taking place in the stadium at that time. As the helicopter hovered over, you can imagine the shouts of joy of the spectators and players.

Ya’ir wrapped the Israeli flag around him while on the helicopter. That is the image he wanted everyone to remember when he stepped off the military helicopter onto the hospital’s landing pad.

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Yes, they are angry at what they had to endure. That is obvious and expected. But neither of them thinks of revenge or hatred. They just want to see the rest of the kidnapped make it back home, their families healed and their communities restored.