Yoni Asher, whose wife and two daughters were released from captivity last week, writes:
A few minutes from the moment I first met Raz Aviv, my little girls aged 4.5 and 2.5 until this moment, they do not stop talking:
Raz: “Dad, lucky you didn’t ride the tractor with us.”
Spring: “Evil picked me up and I cried.”
Raz: “Dad, have you met Grandma?” (murdered)
Spring: “The wicked took Mom’s ring.”
Raz: “I prepared blessings for you and they wouldn’t let me take it.”
Spring: “Daddy, are the wicked in prison?”
Raz: “Maybe Grandma was injured?”
Aviv: “Dad, you weren’t on the tractor with us.”
Me: “That’s right.”
Spring: “Why?”
Holding myself, I answer calmly and explain patiently. That’s how I am for a week, close to them, not leaving, just hugging. Doron, who is the heroine in the whole story, held them captive for 49 days with one eye open at night that they would not be separated. Both of our bodies and minds are exhausted. But right now that’s not what matters, the story will still be told. At the moment, our brothers and sisters who are still held captive are important.
Gadi Mozes (79), one of the oldest of the abductees, Lou Raz and Aviv call “Grandpa Gadi” because he has been my late mother-in-law’s partner for 20 years. Father, grandfather, brother, who lost his partner he loved so much, and now he is still there, kidnapped.
Kfir Bibas (11 months), the youngest of the abductees, the fncmx sweet baby who can’t sleep at night because he and his brother Ariel are held captive there, after grandparents were murdered and mom and dad were kidnapped. Unbearable, unacceptable.
Everyone, from big to small, are our brothers and sisters, our children, our babies, who would have thought they would be kidnapped? You can’t stop, you can’t breathe, until they’re home!