Judith meets the president

On a sunny winter day in Palm Beach County, Judith Raanan, a rescued American-Israeli hostage, spoke quietly with President-elect Donald J. Trump. President Trump, the soon to be most powerful man in the world, listened attentively to the harrowing story of the October 7^th capture of herself and her daughter Natalie from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. She also called for the rescue the nearly one hundred remaining hostages. He graciously accepted a painting that she had created in his honor.

President Trump, under the watchful care of the Secret Service, had finished a morning round of golf and was about to leave the golf course that he often plays and to return to his nearby home at Mar-a-Lago. Just before he departed the magnificent property, he was notified that an American-Israeli hostage was nearby and she wanted to share with him a gift made for him. President Trump, wearing his signature white polo shirt, black pants, and red “Make America Great Again” cap, reversed his path and came over to Judith. He carefully listened to what she had to say and then accepted her present. He also offered words of encouragement and support as well as reiterating his threat that the hostages better be released by January 20th …or else. Rabbi Dovid Vigler and his wife Chana added prayers for the speedy release of the remaining hostages.

Judith Raanan, had traveled from Israel and was the featured speaker at the 13th Annual Golf Classic Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens fundraising event later that night at the exclusive Trump International Golf Club. Judith would share with Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler’s congregation the story of her and her daughter’s horrifying October 7^th capture, their imprisonment in Gaza, and their fortuitous return several weeks later.

This chance encounter of Judith Raanan with President Trump was a unique and poignant moment.

The October 7^th massacre by Hamas and the subsequent battles with Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran occurred during another president’s term. Only recently, President Trump made clear his resolve that “…all hell would be paid…” if the hostages were not released by the date of his inauguration. President Trump, in his first term, proved himself to be one of Israel’s and the Jew’s best friends. His achievements including the Abraham Accords, the relocation of the American Embassy, the proclamation of sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, and creation of the Taylor Force Act, example his true feelings for Israel and the Jewish people.

But here, on the perfectly manicured grass of a Florida golf club, beyond the presidential complexities of combat and diplomacy, the reality of a hostage’s trauma and escape, earned his attention. In forty days, he will again return to the White House and will be faced with the intransigent problems of the Middle East, including the shifting Syrian leadership and the threshold nuclear capable Iran. We can all hope that his resolve to safeguard Israel, Western civilization and America will be influenced just a little by his meeting with the brave Judith Raanan.