o a OPINION
A Long Road Home
N
,
/
(-)
the American Zionist Movement pub-
ere is the most unlikely sign
lished a special Passover Hagaddah sup-
posted along the Pacific
Coast Highway in California.
plement adding these four sons — Arad,
Baumel, Feldman and Katz — to the
It doesn't guide the motorist
traditional readings on the Passover
to drive at any certain speed or in any
theme of freedom. This year, Hadassah
particular direction. In fact, it has noth-
invites families everywhere to include
ing to do with driving or direction at all.
these questions at their
An ingenious advocacy tool, it
Passover seders: Why are these
simply reads: "Ron Arad —
sons different from all other
IDF," asking us to remember
sons? These four sons were
an Israeli who has been missing
taken prisoner in Lebanon
in action (MIA) since 1986.
while bravely fighting for the
Such public awareness about
safety and security of the State
the loss of one individual's per-
of Israel and her people.
sonal freedom is especially rele-
Why are these prisoners
vant during this season. Each
MARL ENE E.
different
from other prisoners?
year as Passover nears and we
PO ST
Israel's missing soldiers have
discuss those who are still in
Spec ial to
been denied the basic human
chains around the world, I
The Jew ish News
rights guaranteed by interna-
always recall the 1991
tional law. They have never
announcement that "the last
been treated as prisoners of war, but
Western hostage in Lebanon" was freed.
rather as hostages.
While the public celebrated Terry Ander-
Why are these hostages different
son's release after six years in captivity, I
from all other hostages?
sat sadly remembering all the loved ones
b • These sons of
Israel continue to be held hostage
of the four Israelis who became MIAs in
years after international efforts secured
Lebanon before and after Anderson and
the release of all other Western
still have not come home.
hostages being held in Lebanon. We
Miriam and Yona Baumel have not
know nothing of the conditions under
seen their son Zachary in nearly 17
which they are being held, nor do we
years.
know that they are still alive.
A born and bred American raised in
Why do we raise the issue of the
Brooklyn, Zachary Baumel became a
Israeli soldiers missing in action on
soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. He
Passover? Passover is the festival of
was captured in Lebanon three years
freedom. We cannot sit comfortably,
before Anderson. Baumel and his
enjoy a pleasant holiday meal and let
Israeli comrades, Tzvi Feldman and
the spirit of celebration allow us to
Yehuda Katz, disappeared during a
forget that there are those who are less
1982 tank battle with a Syrian army
fortunate. If there is even one Jew who
unit in Syrian-controlled Lebanon.
is being denied freedom, we must raise
Four years later, Israeli Air Force Navi-
our voices on his/her behalf.
gator Capt. Ron Arad was captured by
Though Judaism upholds a com-
Amal, a Shiite militia group in
mandment of "ransoming captives" —
Lebanon, when his plane was downed.
paying for captives to restore a corn-
It's believed all four were taken hostage.
munity to wholeness — without
More than 16 years after the first
information, Israel cannot do so.
soldier was captured, the whereabouts,
Mark "Moshe" Hardie, a 27-year-
health and status of these Israeli ser-
old lawyer, launched the California
vicemen still remain shrouded in mys-
roadside campaign to remember Ron
tery. While the missing soldiers suffer,
Arad. Hardie says that Ron's freedom
their loved ones also are tortured as
is our freedom.
the years drag on without closure.
The story of the captives, one of
This year on Passover, as we once
whom holds American citizenship, is
again bring the Exodus story of libera-
about more than just Mideast politick-
tion to life, our mission is two-fold:
ing. Such denial of freedom and
we must remember the Israeli MIAs
humanity is a story of moral outrage.
among our brothers and sisters across
As the complex challenges in the
the world who still linger in captivity;
Mideast continue to demand atten-
and we must advocate loudly and per-
tion, we must not forget the human
sistently on their behalf until this trag-
stories behind the political ones.
ic chapter comes to a satisfactory end.
One mother's story is every moth-
To help keep their plight in the fore,
er's story. And each son, each brother,
each husband has the right, like Terry
Marlene E. Post is national president
Anderson, to travel the long road
of Hadassah, the Wornens Zionist Orga-
home to his family. fl
nization ofAM erica.
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Detroit Jewish News
29