The Everyday, Reclaimed

By Ilanit Zakowski

At this exact moment, the notification that we have been praying and begging for the past 584 days just popped up on my phone- “Hostage Golani Lone Soldier Edan Alexander, now free”. It’s Pesach Sheini, the holiday of redemption, the day of second chances. Edan is now

experiencing his own geulah, his own second shot at life.

I think back to exactly a week ago- on one of my most recent work-related whirlwind trips to NY I was struck by all the signs that flooded the yards and street lamp posts in the towns of

Englewood, Tenafly and Fort Lee. Pictures of Edan filled the lawns of almost every Jewish

house I passed, including my own cousins and Aunt and Uncle’s home where I was staying. As many of us have learned by now, Edan was a Tenfaly, NJ native. He enlisted in the Golani

Brigade, as a lone soldier post High-School. He was one of the young “soldiers” taken on that

fateful day last October. Like many others whose loved ones were kidnapped, Edan’s family has been in the public eye advocating and begging for his immediate release. His family made frequent visits to the White House, with President Trump also making sure Edan’s name

remained in the spotlight, as he was the last living American citizen to remain in Hamas

captivity.

I think about Edan, a NJ boy, who was a friend to many in his community. I can’t imagine all the celebrations that await him, both in Israel and his hometown. And I remember Omer Netura, a Long Island boy who attended High School with another cousin of mine. Omer was also taken hostage on Oct. 7 and his family held out hope for 14 long months that he was alive, only to find out he was killed upon being taken. His remains are being held in Gaza and are yet to be returned.

Why has Eden been freed and not the others? Direct talks between Hamas and U.S.

representatives in Doha led to an agreement to release Edan, in what was noted as a “gesture

to Trump and the Americans, without any conditions.” It was made clear this was out of goodwill as an ode to the Americans, unrelated to Israel. This symbolic move appears aimed at reopening diplomatic channels with the U.S., particularly in light of former President Donald

Trump’s re-emergence on the international stage. By releasing a high-profile hostage outside of negotiations with Israel, Hamas signals that it can selectively engage with global powers,

underscoring Israeli mediation. This weakens Israel’s position in negotiations and may

complicate efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives.

My heart aches for our remaining boys, some of whose families we have come to know

personally: Bar Kupershtein, brother of Or, who has now been to LA numerous times, telling the world about the dire need to release his brother. Elkana Bohout who has a wife and young son waiting for him at home. Elkana’s best friend, Roy Levi, successfully escaped from the Nova festival with his wife. Roy describes how in the weeks following Oct. 7, at first glance, Elkana’s son kept thinking Roy was his father, returning from the festival. Roy continues to reassure him that his father will return home soon. These are just two. And the list goes on… And we can not forget our holy Chayalim who risk their lives out of pure Ahavat Yisroel, in efforts to allow us all to live free from terror.