Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story

On October 7th Elyakim Libman and his friend Eitan Mor were working as security guards at the Nova Party.

Instead of saving themselves, the two of them helped numerous partygoers – under missile fire and after Hamas terrorists had stormed the party and began slaughtering people. They were last seen trying to evacuate the bodies of two young women who had been murdered.

Friends urged them to leave the site but they were adamant, telling their friends to go while they would at least hide the bodies so they could be retrieved later and dealt with respectfully.

They said that they would not abandon Daughters of Israel nor allow the monsters to further defile them.

Elyakim Libman and Eitan Mor were not found and thus it was understood that both were taken hostage by Hamas. Ever since their families have been lighting the path of morality for the Israeli government and the People of Israel:

• It is wrong to release murderers for the return of hostages – doing so will cause more murders and teach the murderers to take more hostages.
• The way to release hostages is through military victory, to endanger and press the terrorists to the point where the hostages are a burden on them, not a path to defeating Israel. Every individual is precious, but no individual is more important than the security and future of the entire nation.
• Israel must push for victory, otherwise, all our other enemies will rise up and destroy us – and without Israel, no Jew on earth will be safe.

These are clear and logical points that are very difficult to swallow when focused on the agony of the individual. It is even harder for parents to adhere to this path when their own child lies in the balance. This is the meaning of the saying “Truth hurts.”

Some people even accused these, and other families of hostages who adhere to the same guiding principles, of not caring about their children. This revolting accusation comes from the inability to comprehend the idea of responsibility to something greater than myself, that WE might be more important than ME.

Elyakim’s brothers were called up to fight in Gaza. They were fighting for Israel and at the same time, searching for their brother. Not knowing where he might be but hearing stories of hostages who had been moved to several locations, both brothers spray-painted messages on the walls of Gaza: “Elyakim Libman, stay strong! We are coming for you!.”

Maybe, Elyakim would see one of their messages and be emboldened. Maybe hope would help him survive.

Today it was announced that, after extensive and careful investigation, Elyakim’s body was discovered. As had happened in a few other cases, he had accidentally been buried with another person murdered on October 7th.

This happened when the bodies were so disfigured that even for forensic experts it was almost impossible to tell that there was more than one person there.

The Libman family released the announcement today. In the great dignity, their message of grief, in the horror they endured for the past 200 days not knowing what happened to their son, this extraordinary family sent a message of condolences and strength for the People of Israel.

Not for themselves. For all of us.

“Amidst our pain and shattered hearts, we continue to pray for the safe return of all the abducted, and with the help of the God of the host [security forces] of Israel, for a complete victory of the people of Israel over all the lowly and despicable enemies around us.

This is the first opportunity to thank all the security forces, search teams, volunteer circles, and all the multitudes of Your people, Israel, who have been with us all along the way and have done everything in their power with selfless dedication for us and for the sake of Eliyakim Shlomo, may his memory be blessed. May you be blessed and comforted from the heavens, and may you find solace with us.”

May you find solace with us. Wow.

Without neglecting their own anguish, they are embracing and uplifting the rest of the nation: May WE, the People of Israel, find comfort with THEM, Elyakim’s parents and siblings.

Wow.

With tears in my eyes, I can only bow my head in humility to these giants.

At the same time, my mind turns to Zvika and Efrat Mor. Their son Eitan was with Elyakim. Where is Eitan now? What happened to him?

How could any parent breathe, much less function, in their shoes?

Even giants can only bear so much…

I pray that we will be granted a miracle that brings Eitan home, alive, to his family.

May God strengthen and comfort both the Libman family and the Mor family. For them and for the Nation of Israel.

We need them.