Held Captive, Holding Onto Faith: The Dvar Malchus That Sustained a Hostage
When Omar Shem Tov was held captive for 505 days, he found an unexpected source of strength – a Dvar Malchus, left behind by an IDF soldier. Amid the darkness of captivity, the words of Torah became a beacon of hope, helping him hold onto his faith. Now, after his release, Shem Tov and his family are searching for the soldier, Yoel Elbaz, to personally thank him for the spiritual lifeline that sustained him through his ordeal • Full Story
During his time in captivity, former hostage Omar Shem Tov found unexpected strength from a Dvar Malchus booklet, which had been left behind by an IDF soldier. His parents shared in a recent interview that the book was among several items given to him by his captors, originally belonging to a soldier named Yoel Elbaz. Now, the Shem Tov family is searching for Elbaz so Omar can personally thank him.
Throughout his 505 days in captivity, Omar clung to his Emunah, which became his source of strength. Despite the unimaginable hardships—being held in a cramped tunnel, deprived of food and water—he never lost hope. His father described him as “an incurable optimist” who lived each day with absolute certainty that he would return home.
Even in the darkness of captivity, Omar remained connected to his Yiddishkeit. For months, he and fellow hostages made Kiddush on a single bottle of grape juice. On Yom Kippur, he desperately wanted to fast but had no way of knowing the exact date. Later, when he noticed Israeli radio had gone silent for a day, he realized he had missed it and felt deep disappointment.
His parents credit Omar’s unshakable Emunah for helping him endure. “We never lost hope, and neither did he,” his father said. “That belief is what kept him strong, knowing that one day, he would come home.”
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