by Shmuel Junger
Dear Friends,
It has been a true rollercoaster over the past two years. The darkest moment in modern-day Israel- the 7th of October- left a deep and unerasable mark on every soul in Israel, and on every Israel lover around the world.
We have spoken about that day many times, yet it never feels like enough. There was a shadow that crawled under our skin, a sense of defeat we could not fully describe- only darkness, pain, and sadness. If you visited Israel in this time, you felt it too. Life carried a weight that couldn’t be shaken off. It was as if part of our very being had been torn away- like losing an arm or a leg. Nothing felt normal. True joy seemed impossible. Time itself froze on the 7th of October.
Much will be written about these two years: the victories and wars, the miracles, the shifting tides in the Middle East. But today stands apart. Today, before our eyes, we witnessed a modern-day miracle – a miracle of courage, faith, and resilience.
For two long years, our sons were held in the darkest dungeons imaginable. Two years – the same amount of time Joseph spent imprisoned in Egypt, the same span during which his brothers did not recognize him when he was finally revealed. But just as Joseph was never forgotten by Jacob his father, neither were our hostages forgotten by us.
We waited. We hoped. We prayed. We didn’t know how long it would take, but we knew the day would come. And as a nation, we refused to rest. We went to war. We fought. We bled. Some of our bravest soldiers gave their lives. We poured every ounce of our national strength and spirit into one cry: “We are bringing our children home.”
This moment echoes the story of Jacob, who could not be comforted after losing Joseph because deep inside, he knew his son was still alive. We too carried that same knowledge.
In the coming days and weeks, more of this story will unfold. Many of the returned hostages have not yet shared the full horrors they endured under Hamas’ psychological warfare. But one truth is already clear: October 7th divided the world – between those who stand with Israel, with justice, with good, and those who do not. From this day forward, the world will look different. We know who our friends are, and we know who our enemies are.
Today, we give thanks.
We thank the Prime Minister of Israel.
We thank President Donald Trump and the United States.
We thank the people of Israel for their unbreakable spirit.
We thank our friends around the globe.
And above all, we thank Hashem, the Almighty, for the miracles we are witnessing in our lifetime.
May this moment mark the beginning of healing, of unity, and of renewed strength for our nation and all who love her.
With faith and gratitude,
Shmuel Junger