Written by Avi Faine – 2011 Counselor from Holon, Israel. Avi wrote with his own perspective just days after the Gilad Shalit release was announced. We hope to add other perspectives as well.
So there we go, after more then 5 years, this guy, Gilad, that everybody in Israel knows, is supposed to be back.
Some will say it’s early to celebrate, and I can agree with them about that, because he is not here until he is actually here.
The thing is, there was never any kind of deal signed by both sides since he was kidnapped.
There are talking now about how dangerous this deal is, and what it will cause in the future if Israel will really let it happen, letting 1027 terrorists go free is not a thing people should take lightly. This price is indeed very expensive, but when I think about it with myself, I try to imagine, how do you measure a young soldier’s life? You just don’t, when he swears to protect his country, he should feel that he is also protected by himself.
For me Gilad Shalit is more then just a soldier who was kidnapped, for me he was a life changing person.
When I was in high school, this day when everything has started, his kidnap, and the Second war of Lebanon, it was then when I realized how much of a patriot I am, back then I wished I could just drop everything and join the army.
And when the time to do so was actually there, I was already ready.
I think it is sad that I actually made a full 3 years of service and a small trip before he actually got his ticket back.
But at least now I feel like I have closure, and not only me, somehow his family campaign was so good that no one could go through a full day without thinking or talking about him. I’m sure that everyone prayed for him throughout all these years, on every family gathering when toasting on holidays, his name was mentioned. On every personal prayer that people whispered at the end of the day.
It was just a few months ago when I taught my campers about him, together we prayed for him, I hope that my next year campers will not have to learn about him.
Now that this is all almost over, I just hope that this guy, who had his life frozen for 5 years in terror, will just come back healthy, mostly on the mental aspect. I hope that his scars are not too deep. I hope that the media will let him be, so he will become normal and happy as fast as he can, hoping he is still able to be.
After he will come back, it is just a matter of time before new attempts to kidnap a soldier will begin.
I hope that God will protect us because I don’t think that we are ready for a second Gilad.
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