We see that October 7th happened on a Shabbat. We also see that most of the hostages are being released on Shabbat (hamas does that on purpose, knowing that the Jewish people honor Shabbat and they want to disturb that).
But what message do we, the Jewish nation, take from all of this? I think one of the most important messages is the secret to Jewish survival for thousands of years: observing Shabbat.
We need to make a commitment to observing Shabbat properly, honoring Shabbat and respecting Shabbat. There are several stories of women who were saved miraculously from the terrorists when they made a decision to keep Shabbat. One woman was waiting in her house with her children, with a knife in her hand, and she could hear the terrorists going from door to door killing people. She raised her eyes to Heaven and she said “Master of the Universe, if you save me and my family I promise I will keep shabbat.” Miraculously the terrorists skipped over her house and never entered. And, of course, she now observes Shabbat.
Agam Berger who was just released on Rosh Chodesh shevat, this past Wednesday, was keeping Shabbtat and kosher in captivity, despite the danger to her own life. Her mother was also keeping shabbat while waiting for her daughter’s return. Agam was supposed to be released on shabbat with a few of the other hostages but for some inexplicable reason it was changed and she was released on Wednesday instead, so she did not have to break Shabbat! An open miracle and an open message of how important it is to Hashem when we, the Jewish nation, obey His commandment to keep Shabbat.
More than the Jews have kept Shabbat throughout the generations, shabbat has kept and protected the Jewish nation. Let us reclaim that right and that holiness of Shabbat. We are a holy nation: a Kingdom of Priests. We need to live up to our role.
Jewish women and girls, light the shabbat candles on time. Make the effort to observe the Shabbat, to learn the laws and to incorporate Shabbat into your lives and your families. May this merit bring Moshiach as it says if all the Jewish nation will observe two Shabbosim in a row, Moshiach will come.