Whatever one's political opinion on the prisoner swap, it is definitely a sad day today as we heard the confirmation of the deaths of two of our nation's soldiers. Baruch Dayan Ha-Emet. Their fight for freedom had become, for the past two years, a fight for all of Klal Israel. Everyone now identifies with their lives and stories.
A few quotes caught my eyes in the news, showing me little sparks of light in this tremendous darkness:
"In the last two years we discovered what a wonderful people [the Jewish nation] is," Shlomo Goldwasser said after two coffins - one of which contained the remains of his son Ehud - were transferred to Israel.
"We would like to thank the entire Jewish nation. This nation is our answer to [Hizbullah leader Hassan] Nasrallah, who is trying to toy with our emotions," Goldwasser said, finding a glimmer of hope on an otherwise mournful day.
Zvi Regev, the father of fallen IDF reservist Eldad Regev, echoed Goldwasser: "I thank the Jewish nation, the media and all who have intervened on our behalf. We hoped Udi and Eldad would return alive; now we will have to adjust to a new reality."
Shmulik Elgarbeli, a spokesman for the families of the soldiers, said Israel should be "proud of its moral integrity and the value of camaraderie."
May these soldiers be the last who need to sacrifice their lives for Klal Israel and Eretz Israel. May Gilad Shalit's return be a much more joyous occasion, one in which we will be able to dance with him upon his return. May we keep being inspired by the short lives of these two soldiers, as they have already inspired thousands.
