For more than a year, the family of Yotam Chaim waited to hear about the moments he endured in captivity, and this week that happened – through a letter received from a female soldier who returned during the initial stage of the current exchange, and asked to remain anonymous. “Mom was at the documentary film screening in his memory, and then received a message: ‘Iris, a letter has arrived for you,’” shared his brother, Tuval Chaim. “When she read the first four lines, she burst into tears.”
Don’t Be Afraid, Everything Will Be Okay
The letter revealed how Yotam was a source of strength and hope during captivity. “I was with Yotam during the first month and a half of captivity,” she wrote. “On October 9, I descended into the tunnel and there I saw him standing next to another captive. Immediately, without knowing me, he approached, shook my hand, and I saw his tattoo of a rose. He was dressed in blue pants and a blue shirt, with red hair tied in a ponytail, a smile, and eyes that radiated peace, love, calmness, support, and care. From the very first moment, he seemed radiant and comforting.”
“Despite the fear and the tears streaming down my cheeks,” the soldier shared, “his touch, embrace, and words helped me realize that as long as Yotam was by my side, I could lower the fear level. He told me, ‘Don’t be afraid, everything will be okay.’” Tוval mentioned that after half an hour together, they took Yotam to join Alon Shamriz and Samar al-Talalka. “Alon, and Samar said goodbye to the girls,” he added. “For a month and a half, the girls remained close to the boys but did not see each other, and she constantly asked about his well-being, whether they were taking care of him.”
“We know that during this time, Yotam was keeping himself strong, doing push-ups in captivity. In the darkest place in the world, he was a shining diamond.” Tuval shared that the soldier wrote to them: “After a month and a half, our area became dangerous and they prepared us for a transfer. We walked for many hours, and then I met him again, and our hug when we met was so powerful and loving. He believed that everything would be over and he cared for us, showed interest in my story, listened, and the smile never left his face.”
“We spent one night together in that tunnel,” the female border surveillance soldier recounted, “but we were in separate rooms with a shared corridor and bathroom near our room. Every time he went to the bathroom, he passed by the door, waved quickly to say goodbye, smiled broadly to give us hope and comfort in such a horrific situation. Yotam tried to whisper to us where we were going and provide information from what they heard from the captors. They gave him sticks and a few pots to drum on, and he played us lovely rhythms, and I was moved and surprised to see him so happy with the music. Since then, we did not met again.”
A Heartfelt Reflection
The returning soldier emphasized how Yotam demonstrated strength during captivity and added that “In March, I dreamed of him – happy and encouraging. He died a hero” she wrote to the family.
Tuval shared his mixed feelings upon receiving the letter: “It strengthens me to hear how strong he was and how he controlled the situation, but it’s hard because you see the captives returning and you immediately revert to ‘why did this happen to him.’ It all rises again, it floods back, knowing how close he was to returning. A year has passed, and you immediately go back to those days and moments. We never had information like this in such beautiful and moving words from another captive.”
