The FlyDubai Miracle
5 min read
4 min read
>20 min read
Watching Romi, Emily and Doron go free, I realized how fortunate I am to be a Jew.
Three of my sisters who were held hostage by Hamas barbarians for 471 days were released from the dungeons of hell. My wife and I were glued to the monitor. It didn’t matter that the grainy video was taken from hundreds of feet away in the dark of two stationary helicopters waiting on the ground to take the released hostages to their next destination. These were our sisters coming out.
The live stream took us to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv where hundreds of our Jewish family were gathered together to watch a live television broadcast of the hostages being released. Every time a tiny thing happened in the process of getting the hostages freed, the whole crowd burst out with joy, cheering, and crying.
So many sacrifices have been made to get to this day where only three of our sisters were being released. So much blood has been spilled and so much pain has been endured.
No one likes the hostage deal. But what is so special and beautiful is how much we love and care about each other and how much we value every single life. So much so, that we were willing to compromise beyond all logic and imagination to arrange for just a small amount of our brothers and sisters to be released.
It made absolutely no difference whether our sisters being released were religious or not. Every single one in our family is special, no matter what. God loves us equally, and we should love each other equally. I may never meet these three women in person but the joy in my heart was intense, as it would be for any family member.
What also came to mind were the stark differences between the Jewish nation and the enemies we are fighting.
The Jewish People are a light unto the Nations. We have paid a heavy price for it, but it’s worth it. We have shared the light of morality and kindness with the world, even though many hated us for it. Hitler blamed the Jews for imposing moral constraints on humanity by introducing the idea of good and evil, right and wrong, and the resulting sense of guilt that comes from not following a good path.
I would rather be the victim than the perpetrator.
I would rather be the one getting kidnapped than the one kidnapping.
I would rather be the one warning civilians to get out of harm’s way than the one who purposely puts civilians in harm’s way.
I would rather be the one who knows the preciousness of one life than the one who uses human shields to protect themselves.
I would rather be the one who trades 100 terrorists for one innocent victim than the one who has no respect for human life.
I would rather be the one bringing light and love to the world than the one bringing hate and darkness to the world.
I would rather be the one getting back innocent people than the one getting back thousands of murderers.
I would rather be the one who builds tunnels for good and useful purposes than the one whose psyche is as dark as the tunnels of hate they build.
I would rather be with God than against Him and His people.
I would rather be the one looking forward and moving toward a goal of peace than the one whose whole goal is to hate and destroy.
I would rather be the one with moral clarity than the one who has lost their moral compass.
I would rather love than hate.
I feel very fortunate to be a Jew and to have such a special family and mission. To the many wonderful people of the world who support and love us, we love you too and we thank you!
To the others, we want the best for you too and we invite you to take a step back, look at these differences, and join the side of love and kindness.
Wonderful article! So well expressed. Write again soon!
Bezal, you say it all in what you shared with so much sensitivity and clarity. We are blessed to be part of this incredible family-both as Jews and as your sister. Thank you for sharing what is in all our hearts 💜
An interesting binary choice, with which I don’t acquiesce.
As a long-time supporter, I am disturbed with this zero-sum proposition. It is, in fact, obscene. Similar to the comment attributed to the legendary Zionist hero Yosef Trumpeldor who famously said at Tel Hai in 1920: "It is good to die for your country", the better comment, attributed many decades later to Rafael (Rafi) Eitan, IDF Chief of Staff, who suggested instead: "It is better to kill (the enemy) for your country.".
There is no honor being a victim. That is a bastardization of the Jewish message, Biblical and current. It better belongs with the Quakers. Shame.
If the only way to keep one’s own moral code is to give up our lives, then that is what is required of us. Of course we can defend ourselves. But I don’t think there’s been any instance of Israelis exposing others to the invaders in an attempt to save themselves. Honor is an odd word. We don’t do things for honor, we do them because we are commanded and our virtue is in keeping the commandments.If we must die for kiddush Hashem, then we have no choice. I pray that no more of our people have to die for kiddush Hashem.
long time supporter of what?
The Jewish people truly are a light to the nations. I am not Jewish, but I have been a Zionist for decades and have read up on Jewish history and culture. I am constantly inspired to be a better person by following Jewish teachings - and by seeing the example individual Jews and the Jewish nation. Thank you for all you have given to the world and for the way you have improved and enriched my life.
When you say “my sisters”, you of u mean that metaphorically. Yes, the hostages are better people than the Muslims. And yet, I would gleefully slaughter the “kidnappers” ( why do you sanitize them by calling them “kidnappers”? You’re afraid of them, aren't you?) Whatever, they and their leftist, Qatari, Iranian and, especially, Scottish friends are on my to do list and that ain’t no joke.
A question that seemed similar was asked 80 years ago, do you want to be a Nazi( may their name be erased) or a Jew, now again do you want to be a Hamas( may their name be erased) kidnapper or a Jew, in both situations we are dealing with not a simple rasha but Amelak a enemy of the Jewish people, where Hashem wants us to destroy Amelak, in the prophets Saul did not do it so he lost the kingdom to be a king, and that was why we had Haman in Persia, now Persia is called Iran and still want to destroy Jews and Israel, so like King Solomon said in Koheles paraphrases" it is nothing new under the sun"
What a beautiful and clear perspective…hopefully many will read and there will be more understanding!
\
Beautiful article.
Why does there half to be a choice between deciding to be a RASHA or someone that does good. HKBH can do anything. He wants us to come close to him by doing Mitzvas. Did you know that one of the hostages that was released now her father and brother 'coincidentally' started putting on Tefillin 2 months ago. Another one a Chassish Bochar was asked to daven for her everyday The Chassidish Bochur Who Davened For Emily Damari’s Release Every Day – The Yeshiva World H' loves the Jews more than anyone but he is waiting for us to reach out to Him
I do not think Jews real mean that question, maybe it is more of a question to ask the world to you want to be counted with evil rashas or counted with good the Jews, I had a dream that there will come a time that there will be war of good vs evil, and the time is now and the question to the world is which side are you on the good side or the evil side
The article was good. The title was disturbing and triggering because you have no right to make such a declaration. Leave that to the actual victims.
Actually, this disturbing line was posed before 80 years ago to be exact to you want to be Amelak( Nazi) ( may their name be erased)or a Jew, in both cases it is 10x better to be a Jew
Your article was a good read.... But I fundamentally disagree with you that "I would rather be the one who trades 100 terrorists for one innocent victim than the one who has no respect for human life." I respect human life, I live here in Israel and I'm grieving this nonsense deal. I couldn't trade 1 human life for a 100 terrorists and because you're writing from the comfort of another country you don't know cannot understand what this truly implies. Evacuating your home, having part of blown off from rockets being fired from Hama's, going to more funerals then I care to count, and the cherry on the cake watching a terrorist who killed my friends daughter in cold blood be released in this atrocity. So No, I daven with the families and pray for another solution but 100 for 1 ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I live here in Israel, and my friend's son was murdered at the Nova festival. Yet, while I completely understand and respect your position, I feel otherwise. Saving these girls' lives and hopefully the lives of dozens more is our duty, because "All Israel is responsible for each other." As to the released murderers going on to murder again, I believe that if we, the Jewish People in Israel, unite, Hashem will do miracles for us. "Uniting" does not mean having the same opinions; it means respecting and loving the other. I respect your point of view. I hope you can respect mine.
This situation seems like a paradox, on one hand you are saving lives on the hand if you let out a bunch of terrorists they will murder again and kidnap G _d forbid again and more lives would be lost, Israel should kill terrorists instead of putting them in jail and there coyld be a vicious cycle, I don't think even King Solomon would find a solution to this complicated situation
This is such an important point. The Torah actually prescribes the death penalty for such murderers—and even for the act of kidnapping, regardless of whether the victim is killed or 'only' abused. If this were implemented, the issue of 'prisoner exchanges' would be eliminated entirely. In any case, equating murderers or attempted murderers with innocent people whose only 'crime' is being Jewish is a grotesque distortion of justice. Without the guidance of Torah and its divine morality, as is the case in a secular Jewish state, such moral corruptions are inevitable. This is precisely why, despite living in Israel and loving its land and people, I choose not to identify as a Zionist.
Sara Yoheved Rigler---did you have family in Brooklyn??
Saving lives, and sacrificing how many more lives? It's simply rewarding terrorists for murdering the people you love.
I can't believe this insanity to give live terrorists to terrorists, when we don't know how many hostages are G _ d forbid in body bags, in my opinion terrorists should get the death penitly like Eichmann( may his name be erased) got, because if you make trades with terrorists they can G _ d forbid kidnap more people, this is a very dangerous for Israel, I am a fan of Rabbi Meir Kahane( obm) and he( obm) wrote a book " They Must Go" this is what happened when nobody listened to Kahane( obm) he( obm) was more then 100% right in his( obm) views, and what is unfolded these days shows the prove, " NeverAgain"
Terrorists should be elimnated not to be alive and get out of jail, to do terror again to Israelis this logic is insanity to me, all terrorists should end up like Eichmann( may his name be erased) I am a fan of Rabbi Meir Kahane( obm) after all these years he( obm) was truly on point what will be in exile and what will be in Israel, once again most people see Kahane( obm) was 100% right
Kol HaKavod! Your mother a’h is very proud of you!
PERFECTLY put!
You put words to the feelings in my neshama.
A beautiful tribute. Blessings to Israel.🇨🇦
Amen
Yes - thank G-D - for those He allowed to be the first HOSTAGES - to be released. NOW - let's ask G-D - WHY - did this happen - & what do we need to do to change - so we NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN!!!
God either doesn’t exist or he doesn’t like anyone at all?
what does G-D have to do with this?
Great Article-For those that truly know, and those who need to know,
This was so well said- thanks for putting words to my maelstrom of emotions!
Very well said.. thanks for sharing!!! Your wife is a gem in this world, and obviously u too! Be super matzliach in all you both do for the klal!