Monday, November 19, 2007

Bring Our Boys Home



I just came back from a solidarity rally for the 3 kidnapped Israeli soldiers, Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Their families came to talk at the local synagogue and there were easily over a thousand people there, members of Parliament, local Jewish leaders, rabbis... I was on the verge of tears when I heard the parents of the soldiers describing their pain at the disappearance of their sons and the rabbi's stiring closing words about how when our ancestor Avraham heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he went off to war and did everything that he could to bring him home and only them did G-d make the Covenant between the Parts with him. Our covenant with G-d is conditional on our concern for our fellow Jews. These soldiers were kidnapped over 2 years ago, Gilad by Hamas and Eldad and Ehud by Hizbullah. Even though the UN resolution 1701 which put an end to the Second Lebanon War called for the immediate release of the soldiers, they are still missing and Hizbullah even denied them Red Cross access, which is a violation of the Geneva Convention and of basic human rights.

I beg all of you to please write letters to Congress, to the Senate, to the Parliament, to your representatives, to the heads of the UN and the EU, to never let anybody forget about Gilad, Ehud and Eldad. Please donate to The Keren Maor Foundation dedicated to bringing them home, give some money to tzedaka in their merit, pray for Gilad ben Aviva Shalit, Ehud ben Malka Goldwasser and Eldad ben Tova Regev and recite Psalm 70, 13, 142 and 126 and then this prayer.

"Thus saith the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not. Thus saith the LORD: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. And there is hope for thy future, saith the LORD; and thy children shall return to their own border." (Jeremiah 31:14-16)

Don't give up hope. See my previous post and we must not despair because they too shall again see light.



Cross-posted to Goat's Barnyard

12 comments:

nanc said...

i hope they do come home, b.k.

gilad's face makes me cry every time i see it. he's just a baby.

Joe Gringo said...

BK,

I going to jump in and do something you do very well, and that is quote scripture. These boys need God's protetction, here's Psalm 91....

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD,

“He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge -- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,“ says the LORD, ”I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation”

Papa Frank said...

May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob protect and bring home Gilad, Ehud and Eldad.

Yehudi said...

I will be writing letters to everyone in power...oh here is Ehud Olmert's email address...please write to him as well.
pm_eng@pmo.gov.il

It is shameful that Israel started out with all guns blazing, but then "petered-out" without accomplishing what they had set out to do.

Brooke said...

There should not be one bit of peace or co-operation, nor one more terrorist released until these boys are home!

WomanHonorThyself said...

Brooke and Joe are spot on!Happy Thanksgiving..almost time to eat and count blessings! :)

Yehudi said...

BK, even though Thanksgiving is an American holiday, do you guys cook up a turkey, (or at least have some fried chicken?) I do hope you watch some football... :)

Avi said...

We had Thanksgiving in Canada in October. But in our family, we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving. October came right afetr Sukkot, the Jewish Thanksgiving. But we do watch football!

Deborah said...

BK,

I will do what you have asked for the sake of your brothers: I will write my senators and congressman, I will give to the Keren Maor Foundation, I will also make a donation in their names, I will recite the Psalms you've listed, and pray Jeremiah 31:14-16 - I will remind the L-RD of His word: there is a hope for their future!

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident....11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!
-Psalm 27:1-3, 11-14

I pray G-d covers Gilad ben Aviva Shalit, Ehud ben Malka Goldwasser and Eldad ben Tova Regev with His feathers so they will have a place of refuge and be able to rest in the shadow of the Almighty!

G-d bless the three of them and walk them home safely!

-Deborah

Papa Frank said...

Happy Thanksgiving, BK. May God send you the peace that passes all understanding.

Michael said...

We say a mishbayrach for them every Shabbat, at shul...

Avi said...

Michael: Us too and I make sure to say it myself after shacharit.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!