* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Passover is zeman heiruteinu, the season of our freedom. Here is an idea that is full of freedom. It comes from Na’ama Levi, who served as an IDF observer on October 7th and returned after 477 days of Hamas captivity:
“What gave me hope while being held captive was the thought that perhaps one day I would get out of there and return home to my family. When it was hard and I was at my wits’ end, I told myself that while today’s Na’ama is at her wits’ end, I had to think about the future Na’ama.
I thought that if I do not give up, the future Na’ama will return home so happy and will thank today’s Na’ama that she did not give up.
I thought about my family and friends and everyone else who was waiting for me, and I knew that I had to be strong for them too.”
Wow. No matter what sort of challenge or distressing circumstances any of us might face, we learn from Na’ama to look beyond the here and now, to think of who we will be in the future, and to act in the present accordingly.
Besorot tovot.
