In 1994, a Jewish soldier named Nachshon Wachsman was kidnapped by Hamas (while they were still only a horrible group of murderers). On a Sunday evening they arrived at a trempiyada (hitchhiking post) in central Israel dressed as Hasidic Jews, with sefarim (Jewish religious books) on the dashboard, and with Jewish music playing on the stereo.
On Monday, Nachshon’s family were shown a video of their son:
On that video tape, Nachshon was seen, bound hand and foot, with a terrorist whose face was covered with a kaffiya, holding up Nachshon’s identity card. The terrorist recited his home address, identity number, and then Nachshon spoke at gunpoint. He said that he had been kidnapped by the Hamas, who were demanding the release of their spiritual leader, Achmed Yassin, from an Israeli prison, as well as the release of 200 other imprisoned Hamas terrorists. If these demands were not met, he would be executed on Friday at 8:00 PM.
Israel’s position was clear: they do not negotiate under, there would be no exchange.
For that entire week, the Jewish people experienced unity the likes of which had not been felt for decades. All sectors of the political spectrum, all levels of religious observance.
t the Western Wall 100,000 people arrived, with almost no notice — Chassidim in black frock coats and long side curls swayed and prayed and cried, side by side with young boys in torn jeans and ponytails and earrings. There was total unity and solidarity of purpose among us — religious and secular, left wing and right wing, Sephardi and Ashkenazi, old and young, rich and poor — an occurrence unprecedented in our sadly fragmented society.
The deadline came and passed. Unbeknownst to the public, Israeli intelligence had found the driver who had kidnapped Nachshon, they had located the village and hideout where he was being kept (a 10 minute drive from his parent’s house) and were sending in a commando unit on Friday night to attempt a rescue. Unfortunately, they were not able to get there in time, and Nachshon Wachsman, along with Captain Nir Poraz, the head of the commando unit, were killed.
You can read a more detailed account as was published by Nachshon’s mother, Esther Wachsman, on the tenth anniversary of his execution: His Name Was Nachshon Wachsman.
Why is this relevant today?
This morning an attack was launched on Israel by Hamas (the same Hamas that kidnapped Nachshon twelve years ago). They dug a tunnel from Gaza, emerged near an army base. Two soldiers were killed, and one - Gilad Shalit - was kidnapped and dragged back to Gaza.
As of this afternoon (Israel time), the IDF believed Gilad to be alive, held somewhere in Southern Gaza. The Red Cross has asked (and been denied) an opportunity to see him, and Hamas is dusting off their wishlist of what they want in exchange for this young man’s life.
I hope and pray that this sad occasion will serve as an impetus for unity among the Jewish people, the same type of unity that was caused by a similar event twelve years ago. As of late, Jews all over the world, as well as in Israel have been showing much more disunity and internal hatred than unity and love. As a Jew and a resident of Israel, I can honestly say that throughout history one of our greatest strengths in the face of adversity has been our national unity and belief that we are all brothers. Likewise, our worst failures have come about because of our disunity, and our insistence on believing that diversity among one another shows how far apart we are, rather than marvelling at how so many people can be so different yet so intrinsically the same.
May God grant Gilad (Gilad ben Aviva) a safe return to his family, and may the blood of his fellow countrymen be avenged.
(This article was cross-posted on Newsvine)
June 26th, 2006 at 20:42
Amen. I pray we get him home safely.
July 2nd, 2006 at 23:39
PRAYERS FOR CORP. GILAD SHALIT
BY: FERN SIDMAN
As the tension mounts between Israel and the plethora of Arab terrorist organizations that claim responsibility for the kidnapping of IDF Corp. Gilad Shalit, we sit glued to news reports of any developments. Our hearts go out to the family of Corp. Shalit and we lift our voices to Heaven and beseech the Almighty G-d of Israel to return Corp. Shalit, alive and well to his family and to his nation.
We offer prayers and supplications to Hashem for his speedy release and we ask Hashem to provide comfort and strength to Corp. Shalit’s family and friends.
As “Operation Summer Rains” continue in Gaza, israelinsider.com reports that, “Israeli aircraft sent missiles tearing through the office of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday, in an unmistakable message to his ruling Hamas group to free an Israeli soldier.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the military was ordered to do “everything” within its power to return the captured 19-year-old corporal, and cautioned that arrests of senior Hamas officials could spread to Gaza, the Islamic militant group’s power base, a confidant said.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz, meanwhile, said Israel would go after “higher-caliber targets” in the future — a reference to senior Hamas officials inside and outside of the Palestinian territories, a political ally said.
Israeli aircraft, tanks and naval gunboats have been pounding Gaza for the past week in an effort to win the freedom of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, seized in a cross-border raid. Thousands of troops were also sent into the coastal strip for Israel’s first ground invasion since quitting Gaza nine months ago.”
In addition, the Arab terrorists have issued news demands for the release of Corp. Shalit. According to further news reports from israelinsider.com, “Palestinian militants holding an Israeli soldier issued a new set of demands Saturday, calling for the release of 1,000 prisoners and a halt to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. But Israel rejected the demands.
The militants called for the release of 1,000 prisoners, including non-Palestinian Muslims and Arabs held by Israel. The gesture appeared to be aimed at boosting support in the broader Arab world.
The statement repeated a demand made earlier this week for the release of all Palestinian women and minors held in Israeli prisons — an estimated 500 people — in exchange for information about Shalit. ”
The Jerusalem Post (07/02/06) reported that, “Hamas’s armed wing, Izaddin al-Kassam, on Sunday threatened to attack infrastructure facilities inside Israel, including schools, hospitals and universities. The threat, the first of its kind since Hamas won the parliamentary election last January, was issued in response to continued Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip.
“If they continue with these attacks, we will strike at targets in Zionist territory that we have not struck until now,” said the organization’s spokesman.
According to a report by Fox News on 07/02/06 that an anti-Israel and anti-American demonstrated was held in Sidon, Lebanon by Palestinians protesting the Israeli attacks in Gaza. “About 2,000 Palestinians protesting the Israeli military offensive in Gaza set fire to an Israeli flag and shouted “Death to Israel” Sunday as they marched in Lebanon’s largest refugee camp.
Children, some in military uniforms, women and men took part in the protest in Ein e–Hilweh, Lebanon’s largest refugee camp and home to some 70,000 Palestinians in the southern port city of Sidon.
The 90-minute protest was organized by the Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Protesters trampled and tore Israeli flags and later set one aflame amid shouts of “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great), “Death to Israel,” “Where are Arab rulers?” Intermittent cries of “Death to America” punctuated the march.
America is the source of this killing, destruction and racism,” said Sheik Mahmoud Jishi, a moderate Islamic cleric. He called on people in Arab and Islamic countries to rise up “to defend the Palestinians … and stand united in the face of the Zionist aggression that is supported by the American forces of terror and evil.”
Col. Khaled Aref, Fatah leader in Sidon and Ein El-Hilweh, argued that the best way for Palestinians to confront the attacks was to close ranks behind Abbas. “As we face this Zionist onslaught, we say that national unity breaks this conspiracy.”
Palestinian Islamic militant groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad and other smaller factions did not join the protest. Speakers said nothing about the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier by militants, but focused on Palestinians’ plight as a result of the military offensive on Gaza, which Israel said it launched to force the release of the soldier.”
It has also been reported by CNN that, “In the midst of the standoff over Shalit, Israel opened two routes into Gaza on Sunday to allow for humanitarian aid to flow into the Palestinian territory, an Israeli army official said.
The Karni crossing in northern Gaza and a nearby fuel terminal at Nahal Oz were opened at midday to allow for the passage of food, medicine and fuel.
Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said the Karni crossing would be open four days so trucks could carry humanitarian supplies into Gaza.”
As we stand at the precipice of a potentially explosive war between Israel and her Arab enemies, it is appropriate at this juncture in time to pray not only for the welfare of Corp. Gilad Shalit, but we must pray that the leaders of the government of Israel do not accede to the demands of Hamas. We must pray that Hashem give the leaders of the government of Israel enough strength, courage and wisdom to understand that releasing Arab terrorists will not be a deterrent to further kidnappings of Israeli soldiers and civilians. Quite to the contrary, it will only embolden the Arab enemy and strengthen him in his quest to destroy the entire nation of Israel.
We must ask Hashem to guide our leaders in a fearless path of unremitting non-compromise with the Arab enemy. We must ask G-d to give the leaders of the government of Israel the strength to resist the pressures from the UN and internal groups such as Yesh Gvul which has demanded that the Olmert government release Arab terrorists from their prisons.
We must stand together in strength, faith and above all, trust in the Almighty G-d of Israel, for the survival and preservation of the nation of Israel is at stake. Let us remember and utter the words of the sweet singer of Israel, King David who said (Psalms, chapter 18), “I will love you Hashem, my Strength. Hashem is my Rock, my Fortress and my Rescuer, my G-d, my Rock in Whom I take shelter, my Shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold. With praises I call unto Hashem, and from my enemies I am saved.”
May 1st, 2009 at 4:19
i really hope that we get him back as soon as possible bezrat hashem and with the help of hashem and the tefillot of beni yirael. may he stay alive and be strong untill he returns safely home may his family have alout of nachat briote and osher ad mehah vesrim shana 120