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Noam Silent hugs
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Gilad Comes Home!
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Local reactions focus on noble efforts
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20
October 20 2011
iN
I
I
srael Defense Forces Sgt. Gilad
Shalit, figurative son to millions
of Jews worldwide, is home after
1,941 days of being held captive by
Hamas.
Although he was escorted by fellow
IDF soldiers once inside Israel and
greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, the galvanizing moment
of his Oct. 18 release was when he was
back in the arms of his family, who
never gave up the fight for his release.
Detroit's Jewish community did not
forget Shalit. Various organizations,
especially the Jewish Community
Relations Council, plus synagogues
and youth groups, remembered Shalit
at holidays and on his birthdays, by
hosting rallies, sponsoring a showing
of the film Family in Captivity about
Shalit's family, urging advocacy let-
ters be sent on his behalf and through
prayer.
"My own hope is that Gilad's safe
return ushers in an era of peace and
security:' said Kari Alterman, director,
Detroit American Jewish Committee
Detroit office. "And I would note that
the Jewish people, throughout the
world, cried tears of joy and sadness at
his release. Joy for him to be reunited
with his family safely, and sadness
of both the times he missed, and, of
course, for the.thousands of Israelis
killed by those who are now released
from prison."
That's the double-edged sword
to Israel's noble deal — the release
of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in
exchange for one Israeli soldier.
"In Israel, because there is manda-
tory service, there is a lifelong com-
mitment by the government that sends
Israelis to the battlefield that they
will not leave anyone behind who is
captured by the enemy,' said Tamir
Oppenheim, local director, Friends of
the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF).
"For Netanyahu and the govern-.
ment, it was an extremely tough deci-
sion. They reviewed the options for so
many years; there were no options, so
they cut the deal. As Israelis, we are
happy in our hearts, but it's painful in
our heads."
Three years ago, the FIDF brought
Israelis Atara and Nela Barak to
Detroit to speak about their son and
brother, Lt. Hanan Barak, the 20-year-
old tank commander who was one of
two soldiers killed when Shalit was
captured more than five years ago.
"At this moment, I am particularly
struck by the comments Lt. Barak's
mother made that day,' said Brenda
Wayne of West Bloomfield, an execu-
tive member of the FIDF board who
headed that event. "She told me, 'I
pray for Gilad's release as all Israelis
do, and, should the day happen, I look
forward to the opportunity to talk
with him and hear about my son's last
hours:"
Now she will have that chance.
Though the two families are not
close, they stay in touch and support
each other. Barak was Shalit's com-
mander. Atara Barak, reached at her
home in Ste. Varburg in Israel, said her
brother looked out for Shalit, who he
said was quiet and shy. The Barak fam-
ily looks forward to talking with Shalit.
"We will arrange a meeting when
it is good for Gilad," Atara Barak said.
"We want to know his relationship
with Hanan — what he was for him
and how he remembers Hanan. If he is
not able to tell us, it will be fine — as
long as he is OK.
"For first time, I feel like I want to
talk to Hanan," Barak said. "I want to
Gilad on page 26