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Agam Berger’s Return: A Story of Resilience and Hope Amid Ongoing Captivity
After enduring 482 days in the clutches of Hamas, Agam Berger has finally returned home, an event marked by relief and ongoing concern for those still held captive. Her harrowing ordeal began with the shocking footage from October 7, 2023, where she was seen bloodied and terrified, alongside fellow soldiers abducted from the Nahal Oz IDF base. The terrorists showcased them through the streets of Gaza, treating them as trophies, reminding the world of the harsh realities of war.
At a recent emotional gathering held at the Yehezkel Synagogue in Tel Aviv, Berger expressed her gratitude to God and made a poignant appeal for the 59 hostages still in Gaza. “The lives and the deeds,” she emphasized, her voice trembling, “We won’t rest until they all return.”
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Upon her release as part of a hostage-for-ceasefire arrangement, Agam was greeted by her emotional family. Her mother, Merav Berger, shared her own spiritual journey during her daughter’s captivity, stating, “I began to feel God shaking my world.” Even in the darkest moments before knowing Agam’s fate, she began observing Shabbat as a tribute. “We grew up traditional, but not religious,” she explained. “Agam didn’t keep Shabbat before. But somehow, she found God – in Gaza, of all places.”
Merav highlighted that her daughter’s strength during captivity stemmed from her faith and identity, asserting, “They took her body, but they couldn’t take her soul and identity.” During their early captivity, Agam and another hostage, Liri Albag, received a radio that allowed them to hear messages of support from Israel, which provided them with vital encouragement. However, this reprieve was short-lived as their captors grew increasingly paranoid following initial rescue attempts, leading them to confiscate the radio.
In January 2024, Hamas guards presented the hostages with a stack of items found at an abandoned Israeli military outpost, which included a Jewish prayer book. Merav recounted an extraordinary coincidence where Agam had dreamed of a prayer book just days prior to its arrival. “How do you explain that? That’s not chance. That’s faith,” she said, highlighting the significance of that moment for Agam, who began to observe Jewish traditions in captivity.
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As time passed, conditions for the hostages deteriorated. Agam described the inconsistency of their captors, with some being cruel and others indifferent. “They argued with us, scolded us over small things… we didn’t know who we could trust,” she recounted. Despite her hopes of returning home before her younger brother’s bar mitzvah, the day came and went, deeply affecting her. She clung to the belief that rescue was possible, even as despair settled in.
Amid talks of a potential hostage deal in early 2025, Agam remained skeptical, saying, “We heard people talking, but we didn’t think it would happen for us.” On January 24, her fellow captive Liri Elbag was taken to film a video purportedly for a release. “They told her she was filming a video – but not that she was going home,” Agam shared. After Liri’s departure, she learned her friends had returned home, igniting a mix of emotions within her.
Eventually, on the day of her release, Agam was dressed in a hijab and taken in circles for hours, deprived of personal belongings and mementos. Her family was profoundly affected during her absence. Agam’s twin sister Liyam, a soldier, completed officer training while waiting for Agam’s return, motivated by a sense of duty to her sister. Meanwhile, Bar, Agam’s younger sibling, opted to enlist in the military after Agam promised her fellow hostages she would return to her base following her own release, demonstrating a commitment to honor her sister’s resilience.
Now home, Agam is surrounded by love and support, yet she remains restless while others continue to suffer in captivity. At the synagogue, she reiterated this sentiment, vowing, “We won’t rest until every soul – living or dead – comes home.”
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Her mother encapsulated the family’s mission, stating, “This is the Jewish mission. There’s nothing more sacred. It’s our right to exist – and our rebirth as a people – depends on it.” Merav concluded, “God brought Agam home. Now we have a duty to bring the others back too.”
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