Noa Argmani and Eli Sharabi Speak

Two voices we must hear

​Amongst the clamor of all the news you are likely reading about Israel, there are two people whose voices feel particularly important this week.

The first is Eli Sharabi, who was returned from captivity to learn that his wife and two daughters were murdered on October 7th. He has since stunned a nation with his inner strength and courage to live. Although in a different interview I heard Eli say his wish is “to be healthy and anonymous,” he has given many interviews, has spoken at the United Nations, and now has become the first hostage to write a book about his experience, a book that has also been released in English: Hostage.

Although I have not heard Eli elaborate about the state of his health in any interview, the fact that when he was released from captivity he weighed only 44 kilograms (97 pounds) and was held underground without sunlight for months on end— it seems clear why he would ask for that.

And as for the anonymity- the interviewer asked him if so, why he speaks so much and why he wrote this book, and he answered because he feels he must tell the world the truth of what happened to him and to do all he can for the release of the remaining hostages.

Eli’s words here are truly astounding.​

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And second, the first interview ever with Noa Argamani, who agreed to be interviewed in order to honor Arnon Zmora, z’’l, the only soldier who was killed in the incredible rescue operation that brought Noa, Andrey Kozlov, Almog Meir Jan, and Shlomi Ziv back home. Noa has totally refrained from speaking to the media since her rescue, though she spends all of her time travelling the world and speaking with anyone she can in order to attempt to secure the release of the remaining hostages, among them her partner Avinatan. But she chose to give this potent interview now as she, and all of Israel, mark one year since the beyond heroic rescue operation that is now called “Operation Arnon.”

The thing I see in both of these rescued hostages is their tenacity to go on, live their lives, do everything they can for the release of the remaining hostages, and be grateful for all they do have, despite that in Noa’s case she is still waiting to reunite with Avinatan, and in Eli’s case, he’s lost so much and has no hope for his family to yet return, yet he still finds hope and strength to move forward.

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Finally, here is an image that hostage Andrey Kozlov painted upon the year anniversary of his rescue.

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In Memory of Eli’s family, Lianne, Noiya and Yahel, z’’l

And in memory of Arnon Zmora, z’’l