Released hostage Agam Berger made a meaningful visit to Kever Yosef last night, accompanied by Samaria governor Yossi Dagan, her mother, Merav, and Rabbi Eliyahu Levanon.
Before making their way to the site, Agam and her mother stopped at a winery located in the Elon Moreh region. Once inside Kever Yosef, Berger and Dagan kindled the Ner Tamid. As part of the visit, Dagan presented Agam with a certificate of appreciation featuring a statement she had written upon her return from captivity in Gaza: “Derech Emunah Bocharti – I chose the path of faith.”
The certificate bore a heartfelt message: “To dear Agam Berger, with your unwavering faith, you maintained the Jewish spirit. Your strength inspired an entire generation. With your determination, you granted the Jewish people power and hope. We deeply appreciate your visit to Kever Yosef.”
Additionally, Dagan gifted Agam a siddur engraved with her name, telling her, “You symbolize faith. You have no idea how much the Jewish people love and admire you.”
Rabbi Levanon offered brachos to Agam and her mother, leading tefillos for the release of the remaining hostages and for success in the ongoing war. “May you be a messenger of the Jewish people with your inner strength, to bring good news and to see the good in everyone.”
Agam expressed her deep gratitude, saying, “I want to thank the soldiers. Stay safe; you are truly heroes. Let’s not forget anyone. They need us, they need our prayers, and they need us to be strong for them.”
Dagan emphasized the profound impact of Agam’s resilience, remarking, “Agam, you and your mother, who raised you to be this way, symbolize something superhuman. You shared incredible hair-raising stories, keeping kosher and honoring Jewish values under conditions that no one could withstand. They respected you more because of this—those barbarians.”
He continued, highlighting the significance of her presence at the sacred site: “You are here with us, in this holy place, at the Kever of Yosef Hatzaddik, who came out of the pit to kingship. Our sister, we are excited that you are here, and we are glad you chose to come here to daven together with the strength of Yosef Hatzaddik, who came out from the pit, and with your strength, that you continue to embody. May the Almighty send, through the IDF, the Israeli government, and all the Jewish people, salvation and bring all the captives out of the pit with a great victory.”
Merav, Agam’s mother, also shared her emotions, explaining, “After October 7, there were two occasions when I almost reached Kever Yosef. It was planned and did not succeed, and today it came to fruition. It feels like Yosef Hatzaddik invited you, that this will happen with you here. From here, I daven for the redemption of the Jewish people.”
Reflecting on the deeper meaning of the moment, she added, “‘I am my brother’s keeper.’ I think this is the Jewish national moral mission of utmost importance. October 7 was a time to take personal and collective stock. I came here to daven for our brothers to receive a hug from their families. Agam in captivity missed her family very much. Family is a sacred value; we need to return to the basics and see ourselves as a family. May the captives merit to visit this holy place, which belongs to us Jews, and not in the dead of night. Agam was abducted as a Jew, and it is time for us to return to our identity, to our values, to act as Jews.”
{Matzav.com Israel}