Agam Berger’s religious devotion in captivity: Didn't eat meat as it wasn't kosher nor cook on Shabbat
Agam Berger’s mother pleaded that her daughter not be released on Shabbat so as not to desecrate it.
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Agam Berger, the religiously observant hostage released from Hamas captivity this morning (Thursday), did not eat meat throughout the 482 days of her terrifying ordeal.
For more than 140 days, the family of Agam Berger, who was kidnapped on the morning of Simchat Torah on October 7 from an IDF base near Kibbutz Nir Oz together with Uri Magidish and five other female lookouts, directly to the Gaza Strip, has not been able to see her.
However, Agam Goldstein, who was also kidnapped on the morning of Simchat Torah from her home in the village of Gaza, told Agam Berger's mother in a chilling conversation about being with Agam in the Hamas tunnels.
Goldstein told the mother that her kidnapped daughter observes the Sabbath with real devotion. She described how Hamas terrorists ordered Agam to cook food, but she, with incomprehensible mental strength, stood firm and refused to desecrate the Sabbath.
When asked by Agam's mother how they knew when Shabbat began, Agam Golstein replied: "We had such a clock with a date. We knew when Shabbat began."
Agam's mother Meirav Berger requested media outlets over a week ago not break Shabbat while covering her daughter's return. "We're eagerly awaiting our daughters, likely returning on Shabbat. I've consulted with rabbis, including a senior IDF rabbinate rabbi, to minimize Shabbat violation," she said.
"Please don't break Shabbat - no filming or being filmed. Wait until after Shabbat. There will be plenty of time then," she added during a challah separation ceremony for her daughter.
Agam Berger was kidnapped from Nahal Oz base on October 7th along with Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy. For each released female soldier, Israel will free 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted terrorists serving life sentences. The previous exchange saw three civilian hostages - Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher - returned in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Agam Berger is now in IDF hands and has reached the facility in Re'im in Israel.