Jewish women braid Challah and hair to mark the release of Israeli hostages Agam Berger

When four young Israeli soldiers were released in Gaza this weekend, the first thing that many people noticed about them were their provocative gestures in front of their Hamas kidnappers.

The second was their braided hair.

Some observers close to the hostages concluded that braids – also seen on some of the children released during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023 – were the work of Agam Berger, who had become the only woman Israeli soldier left to Gaza.

Now, with Berger published Thursday after 482 days, his supporters refer their own braids to celebrate his freedom and his inspiration.

In the United States, some Jewish schools urged their students to bring braids on Thursday. At least a synagogue organizes a Challah pirate event. A wig store addressing Orthodox women has braided all of its display models, while El Al said that women working for the airline were all braided on Thursday. And a range of “braids for agam” graphics has circulated on social networks, in Israel and abroad.

“This Thursday, in a demonstration of solidarity with Agam and all the remaining hostages, we have all our students come to school to wear braids,” published on Tuesday on Facebook Fuchs Mizrachi School, an Orthodox school in Beachwood, Ohio.

He added: “yellow ribbons will be provided to bond!

The origins of the initiative, like many other partners in advocacy on behalf of the hostages, is not clear. After the release of the four soldiers during the weekend, an account began to circulate which characterized shepherd as “the braid mystery” of Gaza. A news for this purpose was published, then deleted, in the midst of concerns that the amplification of the prominence of shepherd could endanger it on the eve of his release – especially after his family called the public not to be Make it the center of attention.

“There are people who are trying to campaign right now, braids for Agam … They have not obtained permission from the family,” said a message distributed on Whatsapp. “And that’s something that could really, really endanger Agam. If Agam is considered to do something that is a form of resistance or trying to convey a message through these braids, it really endangers it. »»

Now that Berger has been released, “Braids for Agam” events can take place without risk.

BERGER – Who was only a few days before his army service when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, taking nearly 250 hostages – was left alone when four of his colleagues soldiers were released the week Last, despite another hostage that would have offered to stay with her. All five had been removed from the Nahal Oz surveillance station, where dozens of other soldiers were murdered.

Berger returned to Israel Thursday after being forced to cross a scene in Gaza and wander to a crowd before being returned to the Red Cross. Scenes of his happy hours with her parents were quickly broadcast.

For his supporters, the braids of his captive colleagues reflect qualities which they have assigned to Berger. “These braids have become a symbol of hope and resistance, because the calm force and the strong spirit of Agam are woven together, a bit like the braids that she has so lovingly offered to those who have remained late” said an article on Facebook from a New York school that was withdrawn after advocating it for the propagation of silence.

Berger drew special attention to the liberated hostages to have declared that it was his commitment to observing the shabbat even when he was hostage. His mother, Merav, said that the family had started to observe the shabbat and take other elements of religious observance accordingly.

Some Berger supporters engage in a different braiding ritual in his honor: to make Challah for the Shabbat. Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, invited the faithful on Thursday to a common Challah Chrimance event and encouraged those who make Challah at home to publish photos with the hashtag #bringthemhome.

Erin Beser, whose husband is the senior rabbi of the synagogue, had a jump on occasion by braiding his 5 -year -old daughter’s hair on Thursday evening. She said that she had been blown away by shepherd care accounts for other captivity hostages.

“The feeling of making you braid your hair shows you how alive you are, how someone cares about you and that someone’s hands touch you gently, making you feel beautiful and neat,” -It posted on Instagram, in a position addressed to Berger. “A braid is always beautiful, no matter where you are and what surrounds you. Here is a sweet girl to you so that those around you feel loved, taken care of and beautiful. We are waiting for you. 💙🤍🎗️ ”