Keeping Shabbat in Hamas Captivity
This year’s super inspiring Project Inspire Tisha B’Av video features an interview with Shelly, mother of 21-year-old hostage Omer Shem Tov.
Shelly and her husband Malki, unlike the other parents of hostages, were able to get a report on Omer’s life in captivity because the Regev siblings who were being held together with Omer were released earlier this year.
Shelly Shem Tov told interviewer Sivan Rahav Meir that Omer has started keeping Shabbat in captivity. So Sivan asked what that means, since Omer doesn’t have a phone or a TV to turn off, or the freedom to go anywhere, anyway.
Shelly explained that in Gaza they only have electricity until 5 PM every day, and everyone uses a flashlight. In order to keep Shabbat, Omer doesn’t turn on his flashlight when it gets dark, and sits in the dark for many hours every Friday.
After I heard this, this Shabbat, when there was a halacha that was challenging for me to observe, I thought of Omer sitting in the dark in Gaza. And I thought, if Omer can do it, I can too!
May he and all the hostages be home soon, healthy in body and spirit!
Shavua tov!
AMEN!