After 482 days in Hamas captivity, Agam Berger was finally released. She, along with four other young women soldiers, had been abducted from the Nahal Oz IDF base and paraded through the streets of Gaza as trophies by terrorists. At a ceremony held in Tel Aviv, Berger made an emotional plea to God for the 59 hostages who remain in Gaza, vowing that “we won’t rest until they all return.” Her mother, Merav Berger, spoke of feeling God’s presence in her life during Agam’s captivity, prompting her to start keeping the Sabbath in her daughter’s honor. Despite the hardships, Agam found solace and strength in her faith and identity, and was eventually reunited with her family.
During their captivity, Agam and another hostage, Liri Albag, were given a radio that conveyed messages of support from Israelis, providing them with strength. When the radio was taken away, they were left in a state of constant paranoia. In January 2024, they received a stack of items recovered from an abandoned Israeli military outpost, including a Jewish prayer book that Agam had dreamt of just days earlier. This newfound connection to their faith helped them mark time and maintain their religious practices within the confines of captivity, even receiving special accommodations from their captors.
As the months dragged on, conditions worsened for Agam and her fellow hostages. Hamas guards were often cruel or indifferent, leading to a sense of uncertainty and fear among the captives. Agam tried to stay hopeful by believing that she would return home in time for her younger brother’s bar mitzvah. Despite rumors of a possible hostage deal in early 2025, she did not allow herself to hope for her own release. Eventually, Liri Elbag was taken away to film a release video, leaving Agam behind to await her own fate.
Agam’s family was deeply affected by her absence, but her siblings found strength in her resilience. Her twin sister, Liyam, continued her military service, even completing officer training while Agam was missing. Her younger sister, Bar, also enlisted after Agam promised her fellow hostages that she would return to her base after her release. Now that Agam is back home, surrounded by loved ones and attention, she remains focused on the other hostages still in captivity, vowing not to rest until they are all brought home. Her family sees it as a sacred duty to ensure the safe return of all the hostages and as essential to the survival and rebirth of the Jewish people.
In a recent synagogue ceremony, Agam reiterated her commitment to ensuring the return of every soul, living or dead, from captivity. Her mother expressed gratitude for Agam’s safe return and emphasized the importance of bringing the other hostages back as well, viewing it as a sacred mission for the Jewish people. Despite the challenges and trauma of her captivity, Agam’s faith and identity sustained her, and now she is determined to advocate for the release of the remaining hostages, reflecting the resilience and unity of the Jewish community in the face of adversity.
