By now we have all heard about freed hostage Agam Berger and her mother’s love for Shabbos. It is beyond one’s understanding how a young girl can imagine that she can connect to the light of Shabbos as a kidnapped soul in the darkness of Gaza. Meanwhile, her mother, whose heart is shattered into a million pieces as she awaits her daughter’s safe return, is discovering the light of Shabbos at the very same time. Both had no idea that the other had taken Shabbos as the key to their survival.
When asked to cook on Shabbos for the murderous terrorists who savagely held her captive, Agam simply refused. Do you wonder from whence this brave young woman received the strength to defy the brutes who surrounded her? To stare evil in the face and say NO, I will not do what you want! Even in slavery I will stand up tall and keep my holiness intact.
Jews all over the world are now in the book of Shemos. We are steeped in the story of Am Yisrael’s suffering in Mitzrayim, their exodus and their journey in the Midbar as they travel to Eretz Yisrael. While in Mitzrayim, Pharaoh demanded the murder of our Jewish male babies. Who can defiantly refuse to listen to the orders of the ruling Pharaoh of Egypt?
“Vatirenah hamiyaldos es haElokim – but the midwives feared Hashem and they did not do as the king of Egypt spoke to them.” Shifra and Puah aka Yocheved and Miriam were two bold women who tenaciously held onto their faith. They could not care less what Pharaoh or any man of flesh and blood would threaten them with. They knew that the King of Kings is the true ruler of the world. They feared only Hashem. They lived with a fiery love of Hashem.
It was at that moment that these two women created a path for us until today. I believe that Agam and her mother were bequeathed with the moral courage needed in these times from the days that our mothers stood tall in Mitzrayim.
Indeed, Mitzrayim is not simply ‘Egypt’. From the lashon of tzar – narrowness, it is a place where one feels restricted, choking, in narrow straits with nowhere to go. Is not being held captive in the darkness of Gaza a modern day Mitzrayim? Is not waiting for a daughter’s return after being abducted by murderers and savages, wondering if she is dead or alive, a modern day Mitzrayim?
The Torah tells us that because of these two women, “Vatichayenah es hayiladim – they caused the children to live.” Surely the incredible faith that two these women held onto has given life to us, Hashem’s children, as well. How often do we witness a fiery love of Hashem in our lifetime? And when we do understand what we are watching, we become infused with faith ourselves. Their emunah recharges us, allows us to consider and think about our own emunah as well. How often do we have the opportunity to stand up for Hashem, our nation, and our land? How many of us possess the courage that this mother and daughter displayed?
And when it comes to Shabbos, we who can freely keep the Shabbos holy, do we possess the passion and the love that we have witnessed here? If they can guard the Shabbos with such fiery love while sitting in the depth of darkness, we must think about our own ability to bring the Shabbos Queen into our homes each week with love.
Agam’s first message while on the helicopter on her way to freedom was the words of King David “Derech emunah bacharti – I chose the path of faith.” She added “Ubiderech emunah shavti – and I returned on the path of faith.” Agam is giving us the secret to her inner fire. She chose faith. She chose to kindle the light of Shabbos and push away the deep darkness that surrounded her.
We, the brothers and sisters of Agam, are blessed to be part of this nation of strength and faith.
Am Yisrael Chai!
