Skip to main content

What a Kiddush Hashem!

"I Chose the Path of Faith": Freed Hostage Agam Berger's Moving Message from IDF Helicopter

Inspiring heroes: Agam, a young IDF lookout refused to break Shabbat during her captivity in Gaza tunnels, mirroring her mother's commitment to keeping the Mitzvah of Shabbat. 

Photos: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
Photos: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

The first words from freed hostage Agam Berger came during her helicopter flight to Beilinson Hospital, where she wrote a powerful message that has captivated the nation: "I chose the path of faith, and by the path of faith I returned. Thank you to the people of Israel and our heroic IDF soldiers - there are none like you in the world!"

Agam wrote these words on a whiteboard inside the IDF helicopter while flying alongside her parents from the Gaza border. Both her family members and IDF personnel added their own welcome messages to the board in what became an emotional airborne reunion.

Article image
Freed hostage Agam Berger with her parents
Photo: IDF Spokesperson

The Berger family has become known for their unwavering faith throughout the hostage crisis. Last week, when Agam was expected to be part of the previous exchange, her mother made headlines by publicly requesting that Israelis not break Shabbat rules for her daughter's potential release. Agam was ultimately freed today, Thursday.

Details emerging about Agam's time in captivity paint a picture of extraordinary religious commitment. According to fellow freed hostage Liri Albag, Agam maintained her religious observances throughout her captivity, including refusing non-kosher meat and maintaining Shabbat restrictions despite her circumstances.

"Your daughter stayed true to her faith, maybe without either of you knowing about each other's strength," Albag told Agam's mother. "She avoided not just meat but any food she wasn't certain was kosher." Albag also revealed that Agam refused to light fires on Shabbat and observed the holy day as best she could within her constraints.

"That might explain why she looked so pale," Albag added. "Her diet was very limited, but she was happy to stay true to her values."

This isn't the first such account of Agam's religious dedication. Earlier reports from released hostage Agam Goldstein described how Agam Berger refused to cook on Shabbat despite pressure from her captors. When asked how they kept track of Shabbat times, Goldstein explained, "We had a clock with a date display. That's how we knew when Shabbat began."

Goldstein also shared with Agam's mother that her daughter maintained a regular prayer practice throughout her captivity: "She prays constantly and never forgets to say blessings over her food."

1

Loading comments...