The Publisher’s Perspective – 2/20/20

The following is my piece in the February 20, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link:

His story riveted a nation and unified Jews around the globe. His horrific ordeal impacted us in a profound manner, and we felt the acute pain that his family experienced over a prolonged period of time.

On June 25, 2006, Gilad Shalit was taken captive by Hamas terrorists during an unprovoked cross-border raid. The terrorists used an underground tunnel from Gaza to infiltrate Israel and attack Israeli soldiers who were on patrol. During the attack, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and several others were wounded, then-Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

Although the IDF launched a military operation in an attempt to rescue Gilad Shalit, they were unsuccessful. It was believed that Shalit’s captors were denying him his basic humanitarian rights and it was widely understood that he was suffering at their blood-soaked hands.

Aviva and Noam Shalit, Gilad’s parents, went for years without knowing their son’s fate. There eventually were incremental developments in the ongoing saga. In June 2007, an audio recording of Shalit was released in which he said that his medical condition was worsening. Shalit’s parents received a letter from Gilad in June 2008. A video of Shalit holding a daily newspaper and making an appeal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surfaced in October 2009, which verified that he was still alive. Throughout it all, Jews throughout the world prayed for Shalit’s safe return.

On October 11, 2011, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced to the world that a deal had been reached for Gilad Shalit’s release. Israel was going to release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in order to bring Shalit home. In an iconic moment, Gilad Shalit was finally freed after 1,940 days in captivity. A grateful nation thanked God for Shalit’s liberation and Jews everywhere breathed a huge sigh of relief knowing that he was safe and united with his family at last.

Fast forward to February 14, 2020. Gilad Shalit, 8 years and 4 months removed from his emotional return home, got engaged to his girlfriend Nitzan Shabbat. It is an incredibly joyous occasion for Gilad Shalit, now 33, who undoubtedly endured unspeakable physical and mental suffering during his more than 5 years in captivity.

For me, and I’m sure for many of my fellow Jews, this is a remarkable moment and an incredible development that might have seemed unthinkable a number of years ago when Gilad Shalit’s whereabouts were unknown and his health and well-being were far from certain.

Hamas may have dauntlessly tried to break Shalit’s spirit, but with God’s help, they failed. The fact that he survived his hellish nightmare, was ultimately reunited with his family, and got back on his feet after his reintegration into Israeli society, is a clear demonstration of the Yad Hashem.

As Gilad Shalit, now a chatan, begins this exciting new chapter in his life, we wish him nothing but happiness, health, and continued success. Mazal Tov to one of Israel’s favorite sons!