Michel Taube had the honor of reading this text from a mother to her son still held hostage.
“How can you celebrate your 20th birthday when I don’t even know if you turned 19?”
This question was asked by Hirut, Tamir Nimrodi's mother during an event marking the 20th anniversary of the soldier being kidnapped from a military base on October 7.
“406 days. 406 long, agonizing and endless days.
406 days during which every knock on the door makes me tremble uncontrollably.
406 days when I didn't hear your voice, your incredible laugh, where I didn't feel your wonderful embrace.
406 days and I don't see the end.
Today, my Tamir, you are supposed to celebrate your 20th birthday.
How am I supposed to mark this day without you? Without our traditional wake-up call in the morning with balloons, a cake, a gift, and the songs of your sisters?
I find myself in front of a blank page, trying to write about the lack, the fear. Everything is so present but words escape me.
20 years ago you made me a mother, you connected me to an emotion that I didn't know, to love and responsibility. We learned everything together, and
I still learn from you through the stories that are told to me.
The word found in your affairs, where you express your wishes for life, guides me like a beacon in the storm: “Never harm anyone, make myself useful as much as I can.
could”.
My Tamir, I miss you so much. I try not to think about what you have experienced, what you are going through, I only think about the freedom that will come.
Last November, on the occasion of your 19th birthday, we blew up balloons hoping for your release. About 2 weeks later, an agreement was reached and
some were released. We'll also be blowing up balloons today and praying that a new deal comes to fruition and brings you all back.
There's a cake, Tamir. There are balloons. Come back! Please come back…. »
The video of this moment of brotherhood: HERE
For a year, every Friday at 12:15 p.m., in front of the Human Rights Square at Place du Trocadéro, the Mothers of Hope have been meeting at the initiative of Wiso and Crif to demand the release of all hostages. In the presence of Yonathan Arfi, President of Crif, Nathalie Riu-Guez, President of WIZO, Anne Sinclair and numerous public, political and cultural figures.
101 children, women and men are still held hostage.
More than a year after the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, and while the first freed hostages have testified to the abuse they suffered, and several bodies of hostages have been repatriated to Israel, it is necessary, more than ever, continue to demand the release of ALL hostages.
