By: Detri L McGhee, CLU, ChFC, B.Min
Two years ago, on October 7, 2023 I was packing to return from a celebration of The Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, Israel. The sirens sounded about 6:30 am and for the first time in 5 times in Israel, I hurried with my roommate to the shelter. No one panicked. After 10 minutes we returned upstairs. Over the next couple of hours, as we bounced back and forth to the shelter, we began to realize that this was not like the many other times the Israelis had scurried to safety.
The hostel we were in was also filled with soldiers in training. Young 18–19-year-old extraordinarily beautiful and healthy men and women. Soon the lobby filled with them and their bulging bags of belongings. Then, there were silent, empty spaces. We were left to gradually get information and try to absorb the news of what unspeakable horror had fallen on the people of Israel.
Fast-forward two years, to October 13, 2025, I am back in Israel, this time in Tel Aviv, after again celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles across the nation. It is with great relief, and much, MUCH JOY, in the whole nation, the final living hostages from Gaza captivity are being brought home. Hostage Square is filled with singing, shouting, tears, joy and many other emotions, because at the same time, the bodies of other fallen family and friends remain unaccounted for.
Returning hostages are discovering just how much loss their families had sustained. Some receive good news of survivals, and others are finding out many family members and friends are forever gone..
At my hotel in Tel Aviv that evening, the streets were calm. I walked several blocks and there were people walking dogs, sitting in open cafes dining peacefully, jogging, shopping for groceries, (as the retail shops were closed for the evening) couples holding hands, lights in the apartment buildings above. Life was serene.
What were other homes like? I wondered. What would it be like to sleep at home after being trapped in a cage 2 years? Would the light hurt the eyes after 2 years of darkness? Would home-cooked food smell incredible, but likely not be edible for days or weeks as the body tries to regain some normalcy?
We can stop praying for the living hostages to be released from Hamas, but we should pray even more fervently for the former hostages to be set completely from the nightmare of the past 2 years. They need healing of body, soul, mind and spirit. The very least – and yet one of the most important things we should continue to do for them – is pray for their complete healing, and the healing of their families, homes, communities and country.
If any people group can rise above this abuse, global hatred, false accusations… it is the Jew. They have much more history as a people at doing just that. Am Israel Chai.
By: Detri L. McGhee – CLU, ChFC, B.Min
