Omer Shem Tov is Home!

 b''H, he was released from captivity on Shabbat. In all, six hostages were released that day (Omer, Tal Shocham, Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, Avera Mengitsu and Hisham al-Sayed).

Yet another disgusting handover ceremony by Hamas, with Omer being required to kiss two of his captors on the forehead and "wave to the crowd" before going with the Red Cross (who continue to stun me with their absolute uselessness; two other hostages, Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, were brought in a van and made to watch these six hostages get freed. And then taken back into captivity. The Red Cross [aside from that they have visited NO hostages AT ALL in over 500 days] have been reported to have seen these two hostages and did.....NOTHING.

Omer lost 37 pounds while in captivity, and was kept alone for 450 days in a tunnel. 

https://www.gov.il/en/pages/event-omer-semtov220225

In an interview with the "Meaningful Minute", Shelly Shem Tov said that she began keeping Shabbat exactly a year ago, on Shabbat Mishpatim, and has kept Shabbat ever since. "She claims it's not coincidence he was released on exactly the same Shabbat. She says that just as she kept Shabbat, Shabbat saved them"

May Omer regain his physical- and mental health soon. If the prayers of a nation can help, he's certainly got them.

Omer Shem Tov

I heard Shelly Shem-Tov, mother of hostage Omer, speak a few months ago. Omer has asthma and celiac disease and that strikes so close to my heart (I have asthma and two of our kids have celiac disease. And each time released hostages speak of their entire food rations being one pita bread a day, I think of Omer).

Last week, Shelly spoke about what it's like seeing other hostages being released and reunited with their families:

"I have birth to my Omer by Cesarean section and I didn't feel the contractions. Now I feel like I'm in moments of severe labor. They ask me to breathe deeply to ease the pain. Every moment is an eternity. The hours of a normal birth have turned into weeks. Every Shabbat is harder than the next. When I'm in it, it's an imaginary delivery room. There are other mothers there. They receive their children. The sight of this becomes harder and harder every week. I have no control.

I know that everything is accurate and my Omer will come to me in the right place and at the right time. He is alive....And like during the birth, when they placed him on my chest, this time I will run to him and hug him and cry. I will cry with joy. My child will be born again. I pray to the Creator of the World that it will be this week and I need your help. Dear women, you will help me. You are my midwives. On Shabbat, do an act of strengthening for him. Whoever is able to keep this Shabbat for Omer, I will be so very grateful to them. I know it is very difficult, but just because it is so difficult, Gd will reward us for it and Omer will be guarded and protected."

It was announced yesterday that Omer Shem-Tov is on the list of hostages set for release this Shabbat. Please Gd.

Shabbat Shalom

From Sam Kramer, who started the "Good News Israel" Whatsapp group

From Sam Kramer, who started the "Good News Israel" Whatsapp group:

 *I struggle with what to write to all of you…but I can’t just be quiet.*

The images and posts all over the Internet right now are searing and burning and brutal. Memories, videos, tributes…

each one a dagger

My mind is saying, “Shut it all off. Stop scrolling. It won’t bring them back and it won’t help anyone to keep scrolling.
 *If only there was somewhere to go to only see the good news, the miracles and support for us from around the world…”*

The eternal optimist here, that’s my role…we must believe with all of our hearts and our souls, without allowing a 

shadow of a doubt to enter our thoughts - that the tears, prayers, hugs and cries are the final tipping point toward 

redemption. The end. It has to be. Mashiach will be here by morning.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow…

The next 24 hours…let us love, unite, empathize and be one - for the kidnapped, for their families, for our fallen who 

will return home tomorrow and in the coming days to receive their right to eternal rest, for the fighters, for the wounded 

in body and soul, for those dearest to us who we lost in this war, for the State of Israel.

Someone suggested … Perhaps don’t broadcast the images of horror tomorrow, don't spread anything on the networks.

Only the Israeli flag. Everywhere. Let's show them, the scum of humanity who trade in the lives of those dearest to us,

that we are invincible. When we are together, we defeat even the purest evil, all those who rose up against us to 

destroy us - have been defeated. And we are here, we will always be here and we will always win. We are a free people

 in our land and our hope will never be lost.

G-d save us, comfort us and renew our strength so that we may serve You with joy and love. Please bring us peace 

and only goodness - Mashiach - very soon.

We will rise up from the darkness - strong. proud. better…somehow…we always do 

Raise the Israeli flag tomorrow, everywhere. They are coming home. 

Sam Kramer 

*Join Israel Good News Only WhatsApp Group:* https://chat.whatsapp.com/GGpXC0w4lgNLtfkO7WZXV3

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Sad News....Terribly Sad News.....Just Announced

 Every week, Nation on Pause sends me an email asking me to renew my "commitment to Shabbat as a merit for Oded Lifshitz". I've been praying and doing acts of kindness specifically in Oded bn Bilhah Lifshitz's merit since April, when it was announced that the Elad bn Chana Katzir, the hostages I had "chosen" back in October, was announced killed by Hamas.

As soon as I hit "enter" on my commitment for this Shabbat, our family chat lit up with the horrific announcement that the bodies of four people will be released by Hamas tomorrow:

Oded Lifshitz was 84 years old. He was a retired journalist and peace activist who "dedicated his life to helping others and transporting sick Gazans to Israeli hospitals". 

and Shiri Bibas and her two little boys, Kfir and Ariel. Shiri, a 33 year old accountant, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz and the boys were only 9 months- and 4 years old when they were taken. Shiri's husband, Yaden Bibas, age 34, was released from captivity on February 1, after almost 500 days as a hostage. 

We were so hopeful.....

And now even Netanyahu just said, "Tomorrow will be a very difficult day for the State of Israel. A shocking day, a day of sorrow"

May the memories of Oded, Shiri, Ariel and little Kfir be for a blessing

To Every Thing, There is a Season

 Last December, I started helping out our young friends: he had been called up to reserve duty and she was home alone with two young daughter. So I would go over a few nights a week to help her put the kids to bed, wash the dishes in the sink (dishwashers are not very common here), take the trash out, etc. b''H, after many months of service, he came home and now they have just welcomed a baby boy into the family ❤

Last November was the horrible news that our neighbor across the street was killed in battle....(Here is a lovely interview with his mom, Jen Airley). And now we have the invitation to his younger brother's upcoming wedding.

Houthis

 Now that we've had a delightful 2 weeks and 4 days (but who's counting) without the @#$%^# Houthis firing a ballistic missile at us (they say the cease fire applies to them as well), I think it's time to share the little information that I've discovered:

First: let's take a look at the map so you can join me in asking, "WHY do the Houthis (pardon me, "the @#%$^ Houthis") have any skin in this game when they are SO far away?!

"relations" (and I use that term loosely). Thank you, Wikipedia

I read an interesting article in Mishpacha Magazine: "The Houthis: Iran's Last Card" and wanted to share this eye-opening paragraph from the article about "Iran's Sullen Sidekick":

The Houthis got in a pattern of sending missiles between 3-4 a.m. to try to create "cumulative psychological burnout" . During the last week of December, they sent FOUR middle-of-the-night missiles. With all due respect to those (including the @#%^ Houthis) who thought this was a devious and horrible thing to do, I was pretty okay with it. Not in comparison with NO missiles, of course, but I would MUCH, MUCH rather have in air raid siren when I know where the nearest shelter is compared to when I'm out-and-about during the day. 

popular meme that was going around. I got a good chuckle

And also something to be said for everyone being in this together. You know when you've had a rotten night's sleep but everyone around you is all perky and well-rested? Well this wasn't like that; everyone was reaching for the coffee and the biggest question was "did you go back to sleep or stay awake since then?"

11 More Freed!

I'd like to recommend this beautiful and thought-provoking article : "The Terrorist Who Murdered My Cousin Now Walks Free". As author Gideon Black, who was next to his cousin when a suicide bomber blew up the bus they were on in Tel Aviv in 2002, writes, "We must move mountains to bring them home, even as we fear that those very mountains may bury out loved ones in the future. The moral dilemma is excruciating".

What can I say aside from that I am beyond-thankful that 11 more people are no longer hostages.....

Five Thai hostages, who, I feel, have the additional challenge of not having the country-wide support  of their home country that the Israeli hostages have: Sarusak Lamnau (32), Watchara Sriaoun (33), Sathian Suwannakham (35, Pongsak Thaenna (35) and Bannawat Saethao (27). All were in Israel to work in agriculture. According to the hospital they are at, they are all malnourished and spent extensive time in underground tunnels. Lamnau's mother didn't recognize her son when she watched him being released. Today, the Israeli government offered the five permanent residency in Israel. They will also get 1000 nis (about $280/month) a month until age 67 and a yearly sum after that. 

Agam Berger (20), the last of the unarmed military "lookouts" to be freed (52 soldiers were killed at the Nachal Oz base on October 7, including 15 lookouts). Agam started to keep Shabbat while in captivity (as did her mother, while waiting for her) and credits her faith with helping her make it through. 

Arbel Yehoud (29), a German-Israeli held hostage by Palestinian Islamic Jihad after being kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her brother Dolev, a Hatzala first-responder, left his house in Nir Oz to help the wounded on October 7 and was killed while treating victims. His wife gave birth to their fourth child a week after October 7.

Keith Seigel (65), American-Israeli who "barely saw daylight, was starved for long periods of time, and also held in solitude for long periods". Despite being weak and badly malnourished, he refused a wheelchair during his transportation out of captivity and walked on his own into the hospital with an Israeli flag draped over his shoulders, to meet his wife of 43 years, who was kidnapped with him and released last November.

Offer Kalderon (54), a French-Israeli whose teenage son and daughter were kidnapped with him and released last November.

Yarden Bibas (35). The hell this man must be going through....His wife was kidnapped along with their two young sons (the youngest hostages, baby Kfir being only 9 months old when he was taken and little Ariel only 4). His in-laws were murdered on October 7. Even his dog was killed. And now he's released and his wife and children are on the list of hostages Hamas will be giving back. Except Hamas refuses to say who on that list is alive and who is dead. Heartbreaking.

Ariel, Shiri and Kfir Bibas

and finally: Gadi Mozes (80). A touching video going around shows Gadi's son shaving his beard for the first time since his father was abducted. Gadi kept in shape by who walking 7 km a day in his tiny room and, since his release has vowed to do everything he can to rebuild Kibbut Nir Oz. He also offered his captors to come back and teach them how to farm. Some people are just superhuman.

First there were three. And now another four

When I wrote last week I was under the very-optimistic illusion that, with the ceasefire, 33 hostages would be released. The reality is that three women were released last week and four more yesterday. Which is incredible, wonderful, amazing and also such a punch in the emotional gut. The rest will be released in dribs and drabs.

Focusing on the good, here are the incredible women who, somehow, survived being held hostage for over 460 days....

Emily Damari (28), Doron Steinbrecher (31), and Romi Gonen (24)

Released yesterday were Karina Ariev (20), Daniella Gilboa (20), Naama Levy (20), and Liri Albag (19). They were all soldiers working as unarmed "lookouts" on the Gaza border (we'll leave for another time that the lookouts for months had been telling their supervisors that Hamas was clearly planning a big attack). Liri had just started her military service on October 6.... 

I want to share with you a tiny bit about one of the former hostages. British-Israeli Emily Damari lived in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She was one of 37 of the "young people' on that Kibbutz. 11 of them were murdered on October 7 and seven were kidnapped to Gaza. Emily's dog was shot and, as she comforted Choocha as he was dying, she was shot in the leg and also the hand, losing two fingers. Emily somehow survived 471 days as a hostage. When told she was going to be released, she asked that American-Israeli Keith Siegel be released in her stead. (I'm convinced Hamas will only release the prisoners that are in good shape now; they will only let the sick/emaciated ones out in a few weeks, when the world isn't really watching any more)

Photos of Emily waving on a video call right after she was released went viral last week.

And inspired this, which was done by the father of Aner Shapira, who was Hersh Goldberg-Polin's best friend, and died defending a group of people from the Nova festival (including Hersh) who had hid in a roadside bomb shelter. Hamas terrorists tossed grenade after grenade into the shelter. Aner threw back the first seven. The eighth one exploded and killed him. 

the Priestly blessing

Knowing nothing about soccer aside from the poor reputation of most fans, I was touched to see the support that the Tottenham Hotspurs gave to Emily , including waving yellow balloons, putting yellow ribbons on the stadium and making up a special chant for Emily: "She's one of our own". 

Ceasefire

"last hurrah" by those darn Houthis

By the time this gets sent out tomorrow morning, please Gd, 33 people will be safely back in Israel.

Hopefully included in this group is Oded Lifshitz, who I have been davening for for many months.

And Omer Shem Tov. I heard his mother speak a few months back. Omer has asthma and celiac disease and is likely included in this first group (which is women, children, the elderly and those very sick) due to not receiving proper food or medication for the last 15 months....

For those of you unfamiliar with Israel's history of hostage negotiations: In 2011, Israel released over 1200 prisoners for soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held hostage in Gaza for five years. The prisoners exchanged included Yahya Sinwar, who was in prison in Israel for murder and, while there, had his life saved (SAVED) by Israel when he had brain surgery while in the prison system. Sinwar became the mastermind behind the attacks of October 7. All I can say is that sometimes it really stinks being the only democracy in the Middle East. ("fun" article: "He saved the life of Hamas’s leader. Then they murdered his nephew")

So we've danced this dance before and the outcome has been REALLY BAD. 

Even many people who support the deal have serious misgivings.  Tal Haimi was a hostage later murdered by Hamas while in captivity (his wife gave birth to their fourth child while he was held hostage.....). Tal's cousin Udi Goren, supports the agreement but had this to say:  “Do I like it? No. They’re insane jihadist murderous terrorists. Is there another way? No, there isn’t. And this is how negotiations work. You need to give something in order to get something. And because we are, at the end of the day, a Western democracy that values human lives, we will give whatever is needed in return to get our people back.”

But, of course, the more we trade unequal numbers of people (not to mention that Hamas will not actually say how many LIVE hostages they're giving back), the more incentive terrorist groups have in the future to keep kidnapping....It's a horrible loop....

Praying that every hostage returned tomorrow is alive and is able, somehow, to be able to rebuild a life that is happy and healthy in every way