After 482 days in Hamas captivity, Agam Berger was lastly residence. The world first noticed her within the horrific footage from Oct. 7, 2023 – bloodied, terrified, alongside 4 different younger ladies troopers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz IDF base. The terrorists paraded them via the streets of Gaza as trophies.
At a current ceremony, held on the Yehezkel Synagogue in Tel Aviv at a conventional meal of gratitude to God, Berger made an emotional plea to God for the 59 hostages who stay in Gaza.
“The residing and the lifeless,” she mentioned in a trembling voice within the Synagogue, “We received’t relaxation till all of them return.”
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Her mom, Merav Berger, advised Fox Information Digital, “I started to really feel God shaking my world.” She began protecting the Sabbath in her daughter’s honor – lengthy earlier than she knew whether or not her daughter was alive. “We grew up conventional, however not non secular. Agam didn’t maintain Shabbat earlier than. However one way or the other, she discovered God – in Gaza, of all locations.”
She mentioned what saved her daughter going was religion and identification. “They took her physique,” she advised Israeli media, “however they couldn’t take her soul and identification.”
She and fellow hostage Liri Albag got a radio throughout their early days in captivity, and advised in an interview to Israel public radio station, “We’d hear voices—Israelis saying that we have been price combating for. That gave us power,” she mentioned. “However after the primary hostage rescue, they took the radio. They have been extra paranoid than ever.”
In January 2024, Hamas guards introduced them a stack of things recovered from an deserted Israeli navy outpost: maps, a newspaper and a Jewish prayer guide.
Agam’s mom later revealed that her daughter had dreamed of a siddur – a Jewish prayer guide – simply days earlier. “Then it arrived,” Merav mentioned. “How do you clarify that? That’s not likelihood. That’s religion.”
With that guide, she started marking Jewish time. “We had a watch at first,” she advised Israeli public radio. “That’s how we knew when it was Shabbat, when it was Yom Kippur. I fasted. On Passover, I refused bread. I requested for corn flour—they usually introduced it. In an odd method, they revered my faith.”
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Because the months dragged on, the circumstances worsened. Hamas guards rotated usually, she mentioned, noting that many have been merciless and others detached. She associated to the Israeli media that, “They argued with us, scolded us over small issues… we didn’t know who we might belief.”
She tried to remain hopeful, telling herself she’d be residence earlier than her youthful brother’s bar mitzvah. However the day got here and went. “That broke me,” she admitted in interviews. She mentioned what saved her collectively was her perception that it will finish one way or the other.
Whilst rumors of a hostage deal started to flow into in early 2025, she didn’t let herself hope. “We heard folks speaking, however we didn’t suppose it will occur for us,” she mentioned.
On Jan. 24, Liri Elbag was taken away to movie a launch video. “They advised her she was filming a video – however not that she was going residence,” Agam mentioned. “I waited for her. I had made her birthday playing cards. Then somebody advised me, ‘Your mates are already residence.’”
The following day, gunfire echoed within the distance. Her captors dressed her in a hijab and drove her in circles for 2 hours. “They didn’t let me take something – not our notebooks, not the drawings, nothing,” she recalled in an interview with Israeli public radio.
Agam’s absence left a gaping gap in her household, however her siblings carried her power. Her twin sister Liyam remained within the military, even finishing officer coaching whereas Agam was nonetheless lacking. “She did it for her sister,” her mom mentioned.
Bar, the youthful sister, had deliberate to not enlist. However after listening to that Agam had promised her fellow hostages she’d return to her base after her launch, Bar modified her thoughts. “Three days after Agam got here residence, she graduated from her unit,” the Bergers’ mom recalled. “She needed her to hold it ahead.”
Now again residence, Agam is surrounded by buddies, guests and limitless consideration. However she’s not at peace – not while others remain in captivity.
Within the synagogue this week, Agam made that decision loudly and publicly. “We received’t relaxation,” she mentioned, “till each soul – residing or lifeless – comes residence.”
As her mom put it: “That is the Jewish mission. There’s nothing extra sacred. It’s our proper to exist – and our rebirth as a folks – will depend on it.
“God introduced Agam residence,” her mom mentioned. “Now we’ve an obligation to carry the others again too.”
Unique article supply: Finding God in Gaza: Former Israeli hostage found faith to help her survive Hamas terror
