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Kidnapped soldier Ehud Goldwasser
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| By israelinsider staff April 2, 2007 |
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Passover, the holiday that commemorates the Jewish people's liberation from Egypt thousands of years ago, begins tonight. Jewish families across the world will sit down together to celebrate the holiday, but here in Israel the holiday is a poignant reminder for some families that their sons are in captivity.
Israel's kidnapped soldiers -- Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasser -- won't be with their families this year and their seats at the seder table will be empty.
Miki Goldwasser, Ehud's mother, wrote a letter to her son in honor of Passover. Ynetnews reprinted the letter, which reads as follows:
Udi my child,
Today is Passover Eve. The holiday of liberty. The family will celebrate Passover separately this year. Dad, Yair and I will be at aunt Nurit and uncle Eitan's home. Karnit, Daniella, Omri, Yahel and Rotem will be at grandma Miryam's. Gadi is still in India.
We've never celebrated any holiday in this way. We were always together -- laughing, chattering, fooling around, and mainly -- feeling immensely happy.
Tonight we will try to smile as a show of gratitude to our host. We'll try.
Udi, I must tell you, I have been approached by several families who suggested not celebrating Passover this year in solidarity with the three families whose sons remain in captivity. We do not know these wonderful families, but I asked them not to give up on the holiday, but rather celebrate it to spite those who want to weaken and defeat us.
We will celebrate with an empty chair (around the Seder table) -- yours, Gilad's (Shalit) and Eldad's (Regev) chair. I promise you that no one will defeat us; neither Hizbullah nor Hamas. We will not be undermined from within either -- we will secure your release. Our war today -- for your release -- guarantees the safety of all of our children tomorrow.
Udi, I suppose you don't know what day it is today -- that the sky is blue and spring is just around the corner; perhaps the scents of the new blossoms are reaching you; maybe you can hear the singing of the migrating birds, and maybe it is your thoughts that are wandering.
But we are here with you each and every moment, day and night. And we are not letting go. We are not waning. No one will defeat us.
Happy Passover to you, my child.
Happy Passover to all of Israel.
Your mother, Miki |
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