Surviving Captivity: A Granddaughter's Story of Resilience and Hope

Almost twelve months have passed since the outbreak of the war, yet there are images seared into our collective memory that have become symbols of the horrific attack, and they linger on.

One such image is of Yaffa Adler, abducted from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz while seated on her scooter. Eighty-six-year-old Yaffa was abducted to Gaza and released 49 days later in the first stage of a hostage deal. On the same day, her eldest grandson, Amir Adler, who left to defend the home and kibbutz he loved so much, was also kidnapped but tragically killed by Hamas terrorists. It was only ninety days after the abduction that the grieving family was informed he had been murdered, with his body being held in Gaza.

Now, as we mark almost a year since the sudden Yom Tov attack, Orly Adler, Yaffa's granddaughter, shares the harrowing experience her grandmother endured and the impact on their family, and reveals what she is going through these days, as she navigates life when even her familiar home is out of reach.

Grandmother, Yaffa Adler (Photo: Courtesy of the family)

A Gift of Life

"The video of Grandma on her scooter was exposed the very day of the abduction, and through it, we discovered she had been kidnapped," Orly recounts. "From the moment the footage was released and we understood she was in Gaza, a nightmare of forty-nine days ensued, during which we did not rest, we tried to engage everyone we could, doing everything in our power to rescue Grandma.

"I remember the day an officer responsible for our family contacted us, saying she had a sign of life from Grandma. I asked when this sign was from, and she replied, 'From a few days ago.' My response was, 'That means nothing, don't tell us about signs of life that are days old, because they are meaningless. Just because someone was alive in captivity a few days ago doesn't guarantee they are alive now.'"

Orly pauses for a moment, noting that as the days pass, and hostages remain in Gaza, with many tragically perishing there, she realizes how accurate her words were. "Even now, as we speak, there might be a living hostage in Gaza holding onto hope, yet ten minutes from now, they could sadly meet the most horrifying end. We constantly felt that unless we saw Grandma and confirmed her well-being, the worry persisted. Indeed, we couldn't breathe during those days, and even when Grandma was released, and we were on our way to the hospital to see her, my father, Grandma's son, said, 'How nice,' to which I replied, 'Dad, wait, until they are on Israeli soil, it's not over.' This understanding that nothing is certain until it unfolds, and that everything can change until the last moment, followed us constantly, and today, when we see the back-and-forth negotiations on deals, we realize how right we were."

When were you informed about Grandma's release?

"We received the news a day before her release when the lists were published, and the military contacted us to notify us that Grandma was on them. But as I mentioned, until we saw Grandma walking towards us, healthy and whole, we didn't allow ourselves to breathe a sigh of relief and thank Hashem that she got her life back."

Granddaughter, Orly Adler

No Return to Normal

"Grandma returned to life," says Orly, "but it's a very complicated life because although she got her life back and greatly appreciates every small thing, it's impossible to ignore that she's living in a very difficult situation, knowing that many people she knows remain in Gaza. She carries with her feelings of guilt, pain, and suffering because, unlike most citizens, she knows what the hostages are going through; the constant thought of 'why was I saved and not them?' haunts her. I spoke to her recently after learning about the murder of six hostages, and she cried over the phone, feeling despair and helplessness because she wanted so much to take action on their behalf, but she can't."

What does Grandma share about her captivity? What gave her the strength to endure for 49 days?

"Grandma constantly claims her mental strength surpassed her physical strength. She talks about how she bolstered herself the entire time by imagining she would return to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. At that time, she didn't know what was happening with us, but she convinced herself that we're all healthy and whole, waiting for her, and soon she'll be freed and reunited with us. It's astounding how much strength faith can give people, as she's not a young woman at all, and the conditions she endured were exceedingly harsh, more than one can imagine."

And there was the spirit that fortified her. "Grandma says that during moments of hardship, she would sing to herself and try to bolster her spirits constantly. I truly believe that faith and optimism helped her survive 49 days of captivity, but can one endure like that with mental strength for a year? That's certainly uncertain."

Were there other hostages with her?

"Grandma was mostly with other hostages, some of whom she knew from the kibbutz and some she didn't. Eventually, all those who were with her during the captivity were returned in phases of the deal, but of course, Grandma knows many other hostages from the kibbutz and neighboring kibbutzim who were kidnapped and haven't returned. This is very hard for her to think about. Though she's back in the country, her heart and thoughts remain entirely in Gaza.

"In general, Grandma never returned to the life she once had, and there's no resemblance between where she lives today and Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her whole life has been disrupted, and she can't even return to her home, as it's impossible to live in the kibbutz anymore. Her life has undoubtedly changed, even more so for the 101 hostages still in Gaza. It's clear we must do everything to bring them back."

Even dubious deals?

"I'm not privy to the details of the deals, but as a granddaughter whose grandmother still carries severe trauma from the captivity, and as a cousin of Amir, whose body is held by those terrorists, it's clear to me that the state can't recover and return to itself after the war if the hostages don't all come back to us, no exceptions."

Do you believe it's possible?

"I really try to maintain optimism, or at least glimpses of it, because one thing is clear to me – we all must reach a point where we can wake up in the morning and confidently say that we did everything we could to bring the hostages back. It's our duty because we are a people that sanctifies life, and we have a basic agreement with the state and its leaders that if something, heaven forbid, happens to us, they will do everything to bring us back.

"So yes, I'm optimistic because I'm sure it will happen, and I also believe that after the hostages return, we can all build something much better than we had because rebuilding and emerging from this difficult tragedy that we all share – it's what can strengthen and empower us. But to ensure a better future for everyone, we must first and foremost bring all the hostages back home – whether it's for recovery or for a proper burial, and only then can we move forward."