The Human Element

The Human Element

Miki and Shlomo Goldwasser, like most parents, have a deep and loving feeling for their children. In this case, their love, as well as their concern goes one step further, as they, as are the parents of Ehud, one of two Israeli solder’s captured by the Hezbollah. With the Jewish High Holy Days rapid approaching and their son still being held captive – with no definite word concerning his fate or date of release, the Goldwassers have embarked on their own ‘grass roots’ campaign to free him and the other soldiers held captive, Eldad Regev and Gilad Shalit

Displaying a special quilt being made in Ehud’s honor, Miki Goldwasser commented: “We have tried virtually everything to gain their release, including meeting with (U.N) Secretary General Kofi Annan, and even asking for a direct meeting with representatives of the Hezbollah. Nothing has helped so far, and all we as parents can do is to undertake our own efforts, as concerned parents, to help free Ehud and Eldad.” The patchwork quilt, she said, has had “one square added for each day of their captivity. And we won’t stop until they are free and safe with us back again.”

Ehud’s wife Karnit has also joined this personal effort or ‘reaching out’ to the kidnappers on a very human basis. Karnit, who has known Ehud since Jr. High School, calls him her ’soul mate’, and has also met with internationally known personalities, including U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, who visited Israel recently.

Eldad Regev, whose mother died some years back, also has his father and other family members involved in this campaign. One of the main points of everyone’s frustration is that after 34 days of conflict, with all its implications, both Ehud and Elad, along with Gilad Shalit are still being held. Shalit is rumored to be released shortly, but until this actually happens, it is still a matter of speculation – and hope. Gilad’s father, Noam, also is more optimistic, but with an element of caution as well.

Israelis take very seriously the capture of one of their sons, and each one who falls into this situation becomes literally everybody’s son. This only indicates the deep regard that people living in Israel have for human life, which gives even more meaning to the old Talmudic saying: “he who has saved one life has saved the entire world.”

In the case of these three Israeli ’sons’, their parents are not asking for salvation of entire world, but only for their sons’ safe return. The world can wait a bit longer, for its salvation.

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