 Agam Berger reunited with her family following her release from Hamas captivity. January 30, 2025. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) via JPost.com Rabbi Mier Soloveichik has a touching piece in The Wall Street Journal about an Israeli women, Agam Berger, 20, who during her long imprisonment by Hamas refrained from engaging in any activities on Saturday that would violate the Sabbath. Journalists reported: “Thus when ‘Hamas terrorists ordered Agam to cook food … she steadfastly refused.’ Another hostage, Liri Albag, 20, reportedly described how Ms. Berger refrained from eating nonkosher meat throughout her time in captivity, which doubtless involved enormous sacrifice.” Such religious persecution has happened throughout history to people of every faith. This story got us to thinking of the sacrifices of such faithful, from the abolitionists and underground railroad volunteers to the heroes and martyrs of the civil rights movement. These stories make us think of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writing to the world from their jail cells. We applaud the courage of such people and are amazed by the steadfastness of their conviction. But governments, regimes, and terrorists should not be allowed to exact such costs on people of faith, even if brave ones like Agam rise to the challenge. We cannot tolerate power that forces such people into making these brave choices. In a better world, Dietrich Bonhoffer would have continued to write theology. Rev. King should have enjoyed a long and happy life as a minister tending to his Atlanta congregation. Such stories reinforce our appreciation for the First Amendment’s protection of the free exercise of religion. And they inspire us to work harder with our civil liberties colleagues to ensure that in America, at least, people won’t have to pay a severe price for living out their faith. Comments are closed.
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