By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — For the last several years we have included in every daily minyan, Shabbat, and holiday service a prayer for the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, and the captured American soldier, Bowe Bergdahl. At the conclusion of this morning’s service I announced that, God willing, soon we will no longer need to pray for Gilad’s release.
By all accounts, an agreement has been reached to free Gilad Shalit in return for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, 450 now and 550 in two months. The released Palestinians include many convicted murderers and terrorists. Some will go to the West Bank and others will end up in Gaza.
When we were in Israel this summer, almost every day we passed a booth that was set up outside of the Prime Minister’s residence where Gilad’s supporters gathered to demand his release. The Israeli government has been under a lot of pressure from Gilad’s family and a large segment of the population to make this swap.
Israel has had a longstanding policy to secure the release of its captured soldiers. The problem is, of course, is that such deals not only allow terrorists and murderers to return to their avocations and possibly cause the loss of more Israeli lives, it emboldens future kidnappers as well. Furthermore, securing the release of so many prisoners boosts Hamas’ prestige in the Arab world.
After a long and stormy cabinet meeting, the Israeli government approved the release by a large margin. Perhaps her leadership believes that with the security barrier in place, the Palestinian authority keeping the peace on the West Bank, and Hamas isolated in Gaza, the security risk is acceptable. Regardless, this is a decision that only Israelis are in a position to make.
Gilad is supposed to be released through Egypt in the coming week. You will forgive me if I remain pessimistic. Winning the release of so many prisoners is a feather in their cap, but if Gilad is released they lose their biggest bargaining chip and the PR that goes with it. I hope they will keep their word (!!!!) but I will believe it only when I see Gilad return to Israel.
In our evening prayers we ask God to shelter us in God’s great Sukkah of peace. As we begin the Sukkot holiday, we pray for the peace of Gilad and that he be reunited with his family, and that one day all people will put aside their animosity and lay down arms and enter God’s Sukkat Shalom together.
I wish you and all those you love a chag sameach, a happy and healthy Sukkot holiday.
*
Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. He may be contacted at leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com