Fifteen months ago, Israel Today launched a prayer campaign for the hostages. We produced a necklace in the shape of a Star of David, engraved with the date of Oct. 7, 2023, and sent a photo of one of the hostages with each necklace. We asked that everyone take the hostage whose picture they received into their hearts and pray for them every day until they returned home.
Many people around the world participated in this project, buying one or more necklaces, taking the hostages into their hearts and praying tirelessly for them – full of hope and faith that the day would come when they would return to Israel and their families.
Many of you wrote to us about the hostages who returned and about your answered prayers. We felt the joy and love in your hearts – for them and for us. We saw how important this mission was to you and how much your hearts longed for them to come home. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for that.
There were also serious and tragic cases where the hostages were murdered. Today our prayers are for those whose bodies to return to Israel so that they can be buried here. Nevertheless, we find comfort in the fact that so many people have opened their hearts to them.
This project has also gained momentum among the citizens of Israel. Here is what a lovely Israeli, Rachel Levy, who purchased such a necklace, wrote this morning as she prayed for Naama Levy:
“For a year and three months, I carefully kept the picture and the necklace. Every time I opened my personal drawer, the picture caught my eye, and I said to myself, ‘When will the day come?’
“And today I got up with joy, immediately took out the picture and shared it on my Facebook story with a prayer and the hope that the other hostages will also return safely.
“Today I am happy that Naama has returned. My prayers for her have been answered. And now I pray and hope that all the hostages will return safely. Amen.”
Rachel Levy prayed for the well-being and return of Naama Levy. What a deep prayer from the Levites, reminding us of times gone by. A prayer that builds a bridge between man and God – the Levites who mediated between the sacred and the profane.
Saturday, January 25, 2025 (15 Tevet 5785), is a holy day. We are all filled with joy and excitement today.
I don’t think anyone left the house. Everyone sat in front of the TV, excitedly writing messages to each other: “Do you see her? How moving! My heart aches, the tears don’t stop flowing – but this time they are tears of joy.”
We couldn’t stop watching.
At the same time, in another corner of the heart, there is great sorrow for the fifth young female soldier who has not yet returned – for Agam Berger, who remains alone in captivity.
We wait, hope, and pray with all our hearts and trust that she will return to us next week along with the other hostages.
This is how we will continue and this is how we will feel until everyone is back!
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