“Gilad Shalit – 2 years in captivity”: A mother’s heart wrenching pain

On Thursday morning February 19, the Australian Friends of The Hebrew University (Vic Div), Hagshama, JNF, WIZO and the ZCV hosted a special screening of the 50 minute documentary “Gilad Shalit – 2 years in captivity”.

This extremely poignant film featured Gilad’s mother, Aviva Shalit in a rare public appearance since her son’s kidnapping on June 25, 2006.

Beginning on the day of the kidnapping it followed a sequence of events ensuing from the kidnapping and the Shalit family’s efforts to help free Gilad, all the while showing a window into Gilad and his family; a regular Israeli family who have known more than their share of grief as a result of war.

As viewers we were drawn into the complex maze of moral and political issues that make up a possible negotiation with Hamas terrorists for Gilad’s freedom.

Panelists Jennifer Huppert MLC; AUJS Shaliach Tal Dror; Clinical psychologist Dr Hadas Sella and Habonim Shlicha Shibolet Shofet-Edelman presented fascinating insights according to their various perspectives.

Zionist Council of Victoria Executive Director Ginette Searle said following the event, “Gilad Shalit is alive, by all accounts somewhere in Gaza and his family are desperate for him to come home. Since the very day of Gilad Shalit’s kidnapping the Victorian Jewish community has been working to bring awareness to the plight of both Gilad and his family, from the blue ribbon campaign to rallies and petitions. It is vital that we keep his plight alive by events such as these.”

To view photos from this event, click here

To read Dr Hadas Sella’s perspective of the Israeli mother, click here.

For more information contact:
Ginette Searle – Executive Director, Zionist Council of Victoria 9272 5544
Elly Shalev – Public Affairs Director 9272 5519
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The Zionist Council of Victoria leads and encourages Jewish and Zionist activity and expression within Victoria, to represent the Jewish community, to promote and communicate Israel’s interests within the broader Victorian community and to promote Victoria’s relationship with Israel. For more information, visit the Zionist Council of Victoria website www.zionismvictoria.org.au