I first heard the news that Gilad was to be released when I arrived at a YearCourse meeting one week ago. I have been involved in the campaign for the release of Gilad Shalit since first becoming involved in FZY in 2007, learning about the captive soldier in weekly Chavurot meetings and then further on my time on Ofek ‘08 and Kesher ‘09.
On Tour in 2010 I went with 2 other fellow FZY participants to the tent in Jerusalem where I was lucky enough to meet Noam Shalit and presented him with a poster that my entire Tour had signed showing the Shalit family that FZY would be behind them all the way and would do anything to see Gilad’s release – and that we have done.
I stood strong with other fellow FZY members at the Vigil in Manchester on 24th February 2010 where we released yellow balloons to show our support for Gilad Shalit. It was an extremely emotional Vigil that made me yearn for Gilad’s homecoming.
I woke this morning to the news that Gilad was in Egypt and have not switched the news off since. I have been glued to the screen and have been filled with happiness but also anger. I think many young Zionists in Britain will agree that for them today has been a rollercoaster ride for our emotions.
I personally am overjoyed that Gilad has returned home, where he belongs and I understand when people say it is wrong that 1,027 terrorists have been released, however, Israel promises to do what they can to protect the lives of its soldiers; and this is what it has done.
What I can’t understand is the mentality of the Palestinians who were shouting “We want a new Shalit”, this disgusted me, but I will continue to campaign, if G-d forbid this happens again, and the Israel Defence Force will always be in my thoughts and prayers.
I hope now he can be on the road to recovery and will be comforted by the love and care of his family.
Bruchim Habayim!
Gili Dvash, 24, FZY Northern Shlicha
Gilad is home!
It has been an exciting week of nerve racking, cautious and happy thoughts.
In the past 5 years, the world has heard a few times that there might be a deal to return Gilad. It has never been as certain as this that he is returning and yet whilst talking to friends in Israel we did not have the courage to say it straight up. We were afraid to jinx it.
5 years and 4 months ago I was just out of high-school, right before my gap year with FZY Year Course, I was talking to my friend who was serving in a tank unit in the southern border of Israel with Gaza, which I didn’t understand anything about at the time. He mentioned that there was a soldier that had been taken captive by Hamas, and that they weren’t allowed to talk about it in the news since his parents didn’t know yet.
Since then I have served in the Spokesperson Unit and understand a lot about each unit, the borders and the rules of letting the media know information only after the family knows what had happened.
I remember sitting in my class in officer school when they brought back Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, remembering how powerful a moment it was for us. We sat in the same class almost six months later when operation Cast Lead started knowing we were part of a big thing.
But there was one thing I wanted. There was one thing we all wished for during our army service and it was to be there when Gilad gets back home. When he is back with his family and friends. When he is free.
I left my army service 9 months ago but I am excited. I am thrilled. I have tears in my eyes. I have had them there waiting, in preparation, for a week now, since I first heard the news.
There is no need to be cautious any more, Gilad is in Israel, Gilad is on his way to his family as I write these words. Gilad is free. Gilad is home!
Sam, 24, FZY Oleh
When I originally made aliyah I had many passionate views and opinions regarding the conflict and the problems that Israel are involved with. This passion for Israel has not decreased, but my opinions have become far more open-minded. I have had to live amongst the diverse nature of Israeli society, particularly when serving in the army. This means I have had to tolerate other people who live an ideology completely different to me such as Kibbutznikim or religious mitnachlim (religious settlers), from both sections of Israel’s social divide.
The release of Gilad Shalit very much highlights to me the complex nature of Israeli society and my response in turn has been to respect these sensitivities. On the one-hand I am delighted to see the return of a kidnapped soldier and a citizen of Israel. As a soldier in the IDF I feel comforted to know that the Israeli government will do everything in its power to look after my welfare and life. I feel immensely proud that our government would go to the lengths that no other government in the world would go to in order to sanctify the life of its citizens. On the one hand I am not celebrating in the streets nor is really the rest of Israel because there is nothing to celebrate, I feel more a sense of relief. In the army as your shlicha will tell you, every soldier is counting the days when they are on base until they get to go home for shabbat!
In the army you miss your family so much. Gilad should have been coming home in June 2006, instead he came home 5 and a half years later. The trauma of those 5 years will never leave him and lets not forget he witnessed the murder of 3 of his fellow soldiers while he was kidnapped. So while I rejoice at his homecoming, I am more relieved than delighted.
I also feel for the victims of terror, some of whom lost their families in suicide bombings, having to witness murderers walk back to a life of freedom. In prison they were given the human rights innocent Gilad was denied and they walk free back to a life that we have no influence over. They have not served their punishment and victims of terror will feel justice has not been done. I lost my Great Aunt and cousin in a suicide bombing 15 years ago in Dizzengoff Street on Tel Aviv. It is hard for me to look her children in the eyes and explain why the perpatrators of such an attack should be freed in order for the return of a kidnapped soldier. This is why I cannot celebrate, not from a personal point of view, but I do not want to be insensitive to those who have lost loved ones in terror attacks.
In Israel I have always learnt that there are always two sides to every complex issue and often there is not a right or wrong decision and often each party with a different opinion has legitimate concerns. This has taught me to take a step back, look and observe when viewing political issues here in this country.
It is absolutely heart-warming to see Gilad being released. It shows how the Israeli government is willing to take risks and is willing to make painful compromises.
One small thing also. I have been so inspired by the Shalit’s family perseverance. There belief to bring their son home has never stopped.
One-day they will say to Gilad, we went to London, we marched for you in the streets of London and Jewish teenagers came out in their dozens. FZY should be proud for showing continous support to the Shalit family over the past 5 years and should be proud in participating (even a small part) in getting our boy back home.
History was never my favourite subject. When my teachers used to say enthusiastically “history happens around us all the time” I never really understood what they meant.
History happens? History is history, it’s in the past, how can it happen in the present? At least that is what I used to think until this week, when for the first time in my life I was fortunate enough to witness a truly historic moment.
The news came that after 1934 days in captivity, the release of Gilad Shalit was not only realistically back on the table, but already signed by Benjamin Netanyahu. And I was there, with his friends and supporters, as the news fed through.
The entire night had been unique even before hearing the news about Gilad. As part of the FZY Year Course program, for which I am a leader, speakers on a range of issues, from Judaism to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and from left-wing activists to right-wing settlers, are invited in to the campus at Beit Ar-El in Jerusalem.
Tonight’s speaker was the mother of one of our own FZYniks, Yael Gladstone. Marsha, came to talk to us about her son who unfortunately was one of the victims of a bus bomb terrorist attack in Tel Aviv nine-years-ago to the day.
We listened to her tell the inspiring story of how her son, Yoni, lived his life to the full each day, of the tragedy regarding his death and the controversy surrounding the immediate aftermath, when, after giving the okay for his organs to be donated, the family received a call from an Israeli reporter asking how they felt that his kidneys had been transplanted to a Palestinian girl.
Watching her talk, with her daughter – now nearly the same age of her son when he died- in the audience, was incredibly moving. Beyond this, it was inspiring to hear of Marsha’s courage in actively seeking to find the young girl whose life had been saved by her son’s kidneys.
Halfway through the talk I received a call from an excited colleague. She was practically singing down the phone to me with the news that Gilad Shalit was being released. The decision is final, she said. Deals have been drafted and signed by the government.
History was being written right there and then. She put the phone down and I returned to hear the end of Marsha’s story. At the end of the talk I had to somehow thank Marsha for giving such a touching and personal account and explain to the solemn faces in front of me that we had a chance to witness history in the making. If only my old school teachers could have been there to hear me say that.
We headed straight to the Shalit tent to show support and to be a part of history. The atmosphere was intense, lively and most of all it was joyous. Despite the Shalit family not wanting to celebrate until they have Gilad back in their arms, we couldn’t help hide our excitement and conceal our joy.
It seemed quite fitting that here in Jerusalem, a historic city full of controversy, situated in the centre of a world stricken with pain, suffering and heartbreak, that dancing hugging and singing erupted all around, filling the streets nearby.
FZY and YJ Year Coursers at the Shalit Tent on BBC News
I’m sure the debates surrounding his release will continue into the days that follow but now the Shalit family’s dream, after five long years of waiting, and convincing the world that their son deserved to be returned home, may indeed come true.
In years to come when people are talking about Gilad Shalit, if someone turns to me and asks “So where were you when Gilad was released?” I’ll reply “with his family”.
Last night was one that many of us will remember for a long time. After over five years in captivity, it seems that Gilad Shalit will finally be able to return home to his family and to his country. In the early hours of yesterday evening a deal was finally struck with Hamas to exchange over 1000 Palestinian prisoners for Gilad. As news of the deal became more concrete and public Facebook and Twitter became crowded with messages of hope, joy, concern and love. It was a truly humblingexperience to see how much this young man – someone who none of us have ever met, yet all of us feel we know – has come to mean to us all.
At FZY, we have wholeheartedly embraced Gilad’s cause, along with that of the other Missing In Action soldiers, from the beginning. They have never been far from our thoughts and hopes, and we have made it our mission to educate both our own membership and the wider world about them, raising awareness in the hope that the world would sit up, take notice, and do whatever necessary to bring them home.
Our support for this campaign has been unstinting as we feel there is no better example of our aim of Magen (Defence of Jewish Rights), our commitment to mutual Jewish responsibility, and our belief in ‘Am Yisrael as Am Echad’ (The Jewish People as One People). Seeing the messages of solidarity with Gilad throughout his captivity, and the sheer joy at the thought that he may soon come home, it becomes clear that Jewish peoplehood is not just a vague concept, but something very real and tangible.
FZY’s support for Gilad has been seen in numerous ways. We have sold wristbands and badges to raise awareness; we have stood outside Downing Street for a week-long vigil; we have been at the forefront of a march in solidarity; we have performed a five minute freeze in Central Jerusalem; we have ended every FZY event with a prayer for the MIAs. Through the entire five years, we have never forgotten Gilad.
FZY Year-Coursers at the Gilad Shalit tent in Jerusalem
As we enter the festival of Succot tonight, a time commemorating the Israelites journey through the desert from exile to the Promised Land, we can only hope that Gilad will be able to leave his exile, and return home. Succot is also known as ‘Zman Simchateinu’ (the time of our rejoicing). In these days, as we wait in anticipation for the final result of five years of campaigning, we hope that this name rings true.
The festival of Purim, on the 14th Adar, is a time of celebration for Jews around the world. Set in Sushan, Persia in the 4th Century BCE, the Purim story epitomises the hidden face of G-d, whose name is not once mentioned in the Book of Esther. Haman, King Ahasuerus’ advisor, sought to exterminate the entire Jewish populace; men, women and children. Yet he did not succeed. Read more →
Disneyland Israel
Israel’s Tourist Industry saw some developments this week with the revealed information that Disney will be building a theme park in Haifa. Set to be completed by 2013 this park will include a huge cinema complex, shopping outlets and other entertainment facilities. The aim is to turn Haifa into a thriving business centre for Israel. Future of FZY in Israel, hmmm….. I think Tour 2013 is going to be a little bit magical. Read more →
The fire that broke out in Northern Israel on Thursday 2nd December devastated the Carmel Forest and the repercussions of which, are yet to be fully comprehended.
All our prayers are with the families and friends who have fallen victim to this tragedy, yet, as a Zionist Youth Movement we cannot simply watch and pray, but have to act. Although tree planting has been put on hold for now, there are still ways to help the Jewish State.
FZY are heading a tzedakah campaign to support an inspiring youth project in Northern Israel which now seriously needs our help…
Course meeting one week ago. I have been involved in the campaign for the release of Gilad Shalit since first becoming involved in FZY in 2007, learning about the captive soldier in weekly Chavurot meetings and then further on my time on Ofek ‘08 and Kesher ‘09.
In the past 5 years, the world has heard a few times that there might be a deal to return Gilad. It has never been as certain as this that he is returning and yet whilst talking to friends in Israel we did not have the courage to say it straight up. We were afraid to jinx it.
