Inches to Metric: Holiday of Miracles

My husband and I were fortunate to be in Israel in October during the release of the remaining living hostages. We timed our visit with the intention of standing with our Israeli brothers and sisters during the painful second anniversary of the October 7th massacre, as the war continued and the hostages remained in Gaza.

Shortly after our arrival we heard President Trump, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff were coming to Israel to broker a deal; release the hostages, end the war. We watched from our TV in Jerusalem in disbelief as Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff spoke from Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. They said freeing the remaining hostages was their personal mission. I sensed it and wept.

We decided to go to hostage square the following evening, choosing not to stand amongst the swarms of people on that historic night. We took the train to Tel Aviv. It is efficient, clean and fast. Before descending three incredibly steep escalators required to reach the train platform, I paused. I thought of the hostages shackled in the Gaza tunnels. None of hostages had the ability to descend smoothly on an escalator into the network of tunnels, rather each one had to climb at 90 degree angles in cement tubes on simple metal rungs.

We walked from the train station to hostage square. Many from the train walked with us. This was our third visit. On past trips the atmosphere seemed animated. People spoke freely of loved ones, selling merch and raising much needed funds for those desperately in need. This time it was somber. The feeling in the air was palpable. It felt appropriate standing shoulder to shoulder alongside the anxiously hopeful people on the eve of the release. If all went as planned, their loved ones would be returning from the depths of Hell.

We knew President Trump was due to arrive the following day, to meet with PM Bibi Natanyahu at the Knesset. The plan was the release of all remaining 20 living and dead hostages in exchange for approximately 2000 Gaza terrorists. In the Middle East nothing is certain.

We were in shock, was this really going to happen?

The following day we sat glued to the TV. We watched as President Trump landed  Air Force One at Ben Gurion Airport, was greeted by Bibi and Sara Natanyahu, then escorted to the Knesset. Trump spoke passionately and forcefully about ending the war, bringing home all the hostages living and dead, creating a new reality in Gaza and working on bringing greater stability to the Middle East. We watched on split screens, Trump speaking while hostages were reuniting with family. It was intoxicating, raw and joyous. We sobbed and laughed the entire day. We witnessed a miracle.

Many of us feel strong connections to the hostages.

One couldn’t help but notice the hostage faces on placards lining the corridors of Ben Gurion Airport upon arriving and exiting Israel. Each time I landed for two years, as I passed each face I whispered, sorry. As people were released or rescued their placard was removed. It was jarring initially to see the multitude of placards then seeing the group get smaller over time, until the last remaining lingered for what seemed indefinite.

Each face has a story.

A friend gave us a copy of one placard. A young man named Omer Neutra, an American who served in the IDF as a lone soldier and worked at one of our Ramah camps. His card sat on our kitchen counter for two years and he was given a spot at our table for holidays. The day his body was returned to Israel for proper burial I removed his placard. I whispered I was sorry and although I did not know him I thanked him for his sacrifice and bravery.

You should know about a deceased hostage, Hersh Goldberg Polin. An incredible young man who months before he was executed, shared with other hostages a phrase he had read in a book written by Viktor Frankl Man’s Search For Meaning. “Those who have a why to live, can bear with almost any how.” This phrase enabled him to endure a year in the tunnels, starvation and a blown off arm. He gave strength to others who managed to survive, helping them to find their “why.”

I’m currently reading Hostage, by Eli Sharabi in my usual Hebrew and English side by side manner. In his darkest despair deep in the tunnels without sunlight or sufficient food for months on end Eli used the power of his why, which he learned from a brief encounter with Hersh, to find his how. He made a daily practice (with the three men/hostages he survived with in the tunnels), no matter how trivial they would find something to be grateful for; an extra morsel of food, a mattress, running water, a slightly kinder guard…

All the hostages have come home but one, Ran Gvili. He was a true hero who saved countless lives. His family is waiting for his return so he can have a proper burial.

I’ve witnessed miracles in my lifetime.

I call it out when I see it and give G-D credit. I was born into a world where Israel exists. I am now an Israeli homeowner. My neighborhood went from having the US Consulate which morphed in the US Embassy up our street. I’ve witnessed five countries join the Abraham Accords, in addition to the long standing peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt with Israel. The mighty IDF and IAF have greatly reduced the threats of evil on seven fronts including Iran (the sponsor of all this insanity) and seriously weakened our greatest immediate threat Hamas.

But these are dark days:

People are shouting “Globalize the Intifada.” The incoming mayor of NYC (Jewish population is the second largest in the world next to Israel) is not only not condemning that sentiment but saying he will only befriend you if you distance yourself from Israel, and threatening to arrest Bibi should he come to NYC. People are being targeted, harassed, assassinated, for being Jewish, conservative, a supporter of Israel, pro democracy, pro Western. Its almost too much to bear. Then I remind myself of Hersh and Eli, and their quest to find the why in order to endure the how. The light of Hanukkah (link to Hersh lighting candles in Gaza), reminds us to have faith that the light we kindle stays bright. We are the Maccabees!

We will Dance Again! An inspiring video featuring Monatan Tucker dancing with  survivors of Nova and released hostages, performed at Nova.