When I lived in Israel, I had a light blue rectangular bumper sticker glued to the inside of my front door. It was distributed the Chanukah after Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were abducted. At its center was a menorah; above it, it said in Hebrew, bring the boys home, while underneath it was the verse from Jeremiah 31, Ve-shavu vanim ligevulam, and your children shall return to their borders.
Those are the final words from the verse:
Thus says the L-rd; a voice was heard in Ramah, lament and bitter weeping Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted . . . Thus says the L-rd: Refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded and they will return again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope for your future, and your children shall return to their borders.
This promise by G-d to the Matriarch Rachel about the future of the Jewish people has always been a mantra of comfort that sometimes serves as the only beacon of hope in darkness.
I kept that sticker even after the sadness of Ehud and Eldad, who were returned to Israel in coffins wrapped in white and blue Israeli flags. Gilad was still missing.
This week brought an end to that uncertainty and waiting. As each day passed since the news of the agreement to free Shalit, there were new bumper stickers to hang.
First it was, Baruch Boechah Gilad Welcome Upon Your Return Gilad or Gilad Chozer Habaita Gilad is Returning Home; then it became Baderech Habaita On The Way Home in the top righthand corner, and then, Gilad, the entire country waited for you and an entire nation is embracing you. Be strong.
The rest of this article is available in the IJN’s print edition only. Contact Carol to order your copy at (303) 861-2234 or email carol@ijn.com.
