Former Hostage Agam Berger Shares How Faith Sustained Her in Captivity

Former hostage Agam Berger opened up about how her religious faith provided strength and stability during her captivity by Hamas in Gaza. In an interview with N12 on Thursday, Berger shared her experiences of observing Jewish holidays, keeping Shabbat, and maintaining a deep connection to her beliefs despite the harsh conditions.

Berger was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’s deadly assault on southern Israel. She recounted how, in a surprising gesture, her captors provided a prayer book. "Last January, the terrorists brought us a prayer book they found in the field," Berger recalled. "They asked us what it was and then gave it to us. We used it throughout our captivity."

Amid the turmoil, Berger and other female hostages found ways to celebrate Jewish holidays and track the passage of time. "We celebrated most of the holidays," she said. "Sometimes, we had access to a radio, and occasionally, we saw things on television that helped us track the date."

Even during Passover, Berger adhered to Jewish dietary laws. "I didn’t eat chametz. I asked for cornmeal, and the captors brought it to me," she noted. Remarkably, Berger observed that her captors seemed to respect her religious devotion. "Somehow, they valued me more because I was religious," she said, adding, "They said all of Judaism is a lie, but they preferred someone who believes in God over someone who doesn’t."

Berger also shared how she observed Jewish fast days, including Yom Kippur, Ta’anit Esther, and Tisha B’Av. "I asked God to give me a sign, and then, by chance, I saw the date ‘9th of Av’ appear on television. From there, we counted until the actual day."

Shabbat became a crucial anchor for Berger, helping her maintain a sense of normalcy. "I simply refused to light a fire on Shabbat. I didn’t watch TV on Shabbat," she said. At times, her captors would even provide candles for Shabbat. "We would listen to Galgalatz and know when Shabbat had begun. I took it upon myself to keep Shabbat."

Berger also described the poignant moment when she learned she would be released. After weeks of being denied news, she was informed that she was going home and that many of her fellow captives had already been freed. "I saw the girls coming out in the video, and I still couldn’t believe it would be like that," she said.

Agam Berger’s story is a powerful testament to the strength of faith and resilience even in the darkest of times. Her unwavering commitment to her religious practices not only provided personal solace but also served as a quiet act of defiance against her captors.

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