Courage in Captivity: Agam Berger’s Faith in Gaza

When 20-year-old Agam Berger, one of the young women recently released by Hamas in the hostage deal, was picked up by the Israeli military helicopter, she was handed a white board and offered to write a message to everyone, in Israel and beyond, watching and waiting for her reunion with her family. Agam’s message began with, “I chose the path of faith, and in the path of faith I returned.”

Agam’s incredible courage and strength of spirit has been inspiring Jews all over the world.

From an early age, Agam has been living a life filled with purpose. A talented violinist, Agam has been playing violin from age 8. She studied in a music program in her hometown of Holon. She also volunteered with children with special needs and learning difficulties. Agam has a twin sister, a younger sister, and a younger brother.

When Agam was 16, she created a board with newspaper clippings with words and phrases that were especially meaningful to her. Among the phrases are “The story of my life is faith” and “Family is a gift.” Agam has always felt strongly connected to her religion, to her roots, and to her family.

After high school, Agam attended a premilitary academy, hoping to contribute to Israel’s security. Upon graduation, she was assigned the position of an IDF lookout.

Agam’s mother, Meirav, shared that Agam was disappointed with her assignment. “She wanted to be a basic training instructor and tried to change her assignment without success. She decided that if this was her role, she would do it to the best of her ability and aim for command and officer positions.”

Like everything in her life, Agam saw her assignment as her mission. When her placement was changed last minute from the Kerem Shalom base to the Nahal Oz base, she was disappointed once again.

Speaking to her mother about the change, Agam asked, “Mom, is this for the best?”

Her mother reassured her, telling her, “Wherever you are, that’s where your destiny is.”

They’re shooting at us, there are terrorists, everyone is crying, but I’m not afraid.

Agam accepted her destiny. And that’s how she found herself at the Nachal Oz army base shortly before October 7^th, 2023.

On the morning of October 7^th, Hamas terrorists infiltrated the Nachal Oz army base, murdered many soldiers, and took Agam hostage. In her last phone conversation with her family before she was taken hostage, Agam said, “They’re shooting at us, there are terrorists, everyone is crying, but I’m not afraid.”

Birthday Greetings from Captivity

At first, Agam was held together with the 17-year-old Agam Goldstein-Almog. On November 26^th, 2023, Agam Goldstein-Almog was released in a hostage deal. On the way to the IDF helicopter, Agam Goldstein-Almog requested to make a phone call. She called Shlomi Berger, Agam Berger’s father.

That day was Shlomi’s birthday. Agam Goldstein-Almog told Shlomi that his daughter Agam had asked her to call him and wish him a happy birthday. Shlomi was moved to tears by the phone call and the fact that his daughter managed to send him a birthday greeting from captivity.

Agam Goldstein-Almog reassured Shlomi that though being in captivity was hard, Agam Berger was not only doing okay but was a source of strength and support to other hostages.

“She braided all the girls’ hair, I’m still wearing the braids she made for me,” she said.

Later, Agam Berger was moved and held together with four other female IDF lookouts, also kidnapped from Nachal Oz. She continued encouraging the other captives and braiding their hair. The braids became a symbol of her strength when the four young women were released before Agam, their hair beautifully braided.

Shabbat in Captivity

Agam grew up in a traditional Jewish family. Though they weren’t strictly Shabbat observant, Jewish traditions were important to them.

After Agam’s grandmother passed away in January 2023, Agam’s mother Meirav decided to observe Shabbat in memory of her mother. The rest of the family respected her undertaking but did not participate.

Agam with her parents

When Agam Goldstein-Almog called Agam’s father Shlomi on his birthday, she also told him that Agam was observing Shabbat in captivity. The terrorists forced the young women they held captive to cook for them. Agam cooked for the terrorists the rest of the week, but on Shabbat, she refused to light a fire. The terrorists threatened her, but she held firm.

The Berger family was moved and felt proud of Agam.

After Agam’s return, more information came out about her Jewish observance in captivity. Agam made a special effort to keep kosher. She refused to eat meat given to the hostages, even though food was sparse in captivity.

Agam also fasted on Tisha B’Av, the fast day commemorating the destruction of two temples in Jerusalem.

In captivity, Agam prayed a lot. She wished she had a siddur, a traditional prayer book, but it was not something easily found in Gaza. Agam even asked one of the terrorists who held her if they had a siddur. The terrorist laughed at her. Undeterred, Agam prayed in her own words, asking God to send her a siddur.

Two days later, that same terrorist brought Agam a siddur. “Your God loves you,” he told her. “We found this in Khan Yunis.”

The siddur had likely been left behind by an IDF soldier.

The Return

As the hostage deal took effect, Hamas insisted on releasing the hostages on Shabbat, knowing full well the significance of Shabbat for Jews. Due to the life-threatening nature of the situation, Israel agreed to Hamas’s terms.

Agam entering Israel upon her return from Gaza

When Agam’s mother Meirav found out that her daughter might be released on Shabbat, she requested that everyone involved in Agam’s return to minimize violation of Shabbat as much as possible.

Meirav wrote, “From you I ask, those who embrace us and who have gone this entire journey with us, and who have the great merit of bringing our children home – please do not desecrate Shabbat. Do not photograph, do not be photographed, and wait for Shabbat to end. At the conclusion of Shabbat, we will come out, and there will be time, a lot of time, to take photographs and be photographed.”

In the end Agam was released on a Thursday, without any Shabbat violation whatsoever.

The whole country, as well as Israel’s supporters outside of Israel, watched Agam’s emotional reunion with her family. Her mother, Meirav, told Agam, “We are here, we will never leave you, forever. A promise from your mother.”

“How are you so tall? You’re as tall as Dad!” Agam exclaimed when she saw her younger brother, who had celebrated his bar mitzvah while she was in captivity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEOLX2M-suE

Agam was also reunited with the four IDF lookouts with whom she was held together in captivity. The young women, who had been released the week before, waited for Agam in the hospital, prepared welcome signs for her, and received her with a warm embrace.

Four days after her release, Agam attended her younger sister Bar’s IDF ceremony celebrating the completion of a course. Agam was honored with placing a purple aiguillette on her sister’s shoulder. Both sisters had tears in their eyes as Agam said, “I’m proud of you!¹”

Less than a week after their release, Agam and the four other IDF lookouts, Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy stated that they wanted to return to IDF service. Their families were surprised yet proud.

Agam reuniting in the hospital with the four other IDF lookout soldiers

The IDF responded that it was too early for the young women to return. “This is their time to recover,” they said².

There is no doubt that Agam and her friends will make significant contributions to the State of Israel and to the Jewish people in the future. They have already inspired many people throughout the world.

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