A Tender Heart From Youth

The stories of all 20 released living hostages are heart-stirring. One in particular brings me to tears. Tears of gratitude that collect in a special urn. It’s the story of the return of Elkana, a father to 5-year-old Reim, and husband of Rebecca. 

100 days ago, I wrote (Daily Letter 539) about Rebecca’s efforts to communicate in developmentally-fitting ways with then 3-year-old Reim. He didn’t understand what had happened to his Daddy back in October of 2023. 

At first, when we all hoped the hostages would be brought back in days, she told her precious three-year-old, “Daddy is lost. They’re looking for him and will bring him home soon.” But, as time went on, she had to tell Reim more. “Daddy went to work. Bad people came and took Daddy and others. Daddy’s with the bad people, but Daddy’s not alone.”

After the temporary hostages and ceasefire release last February, she had to speak more frankly. “I decided to tell him more. Daddy is a hostage in Gaza.” Little Reim asked why Daddy didn’t come home with the others. She answered, “Those people needed to see doctors sooner. Your Daddy is strong. He can wait longer.” 

Rebecca then added, “Each time I speak to Reim, he is silent. He doesn’t respond right away. He listens. Imagines. And then he speaks later on.” In today’s world, where we leap to conclusions and rush to verdicts, Rebecca and Reim share with measured-care. It’s refreshing.

Last Monday, when Elkana was blessedly reunited with Rebecca and Reim, he gifted to his son a doll he’d stitched together in captivity. 

This week’s portion finds God lamenting human misuse of their free will. “The devisings of the human heart are evil from its youth” (Gen. 8:21). Actually, this sad sentiment is embedded with hope. It’s the preamble to God’s promise never again to bring another world-destroying flood. In other words, the evil that caused the destruction had become the cause not to. With compassion, human hearts can mature, they can ripen into righteousness. 

And sometimes, indeed quite-often, the human heart is touchingly-tender from its youth.