From Mount Moriah to Gaza: Who Holds Our Children

During his captivity in Gaza, released hostage Bar Kupershtein told of a phone call his mother received. A terrorist contacted her, not to negotiate, but to frighten her. A horrific form of psychological terror. He told her she was failing her son. That she was not doing enough. That if she wanted to see him again she needed to protest, pressure governments, even go to The Hague. His message was clear: your son is in our hands.

She did not break. She did not argue. She did not try to win him over.

She answered immediately:

“My son is not in your hands but in the hands of the Creator of the world. And you too are in the hands of the Creator of the world.”

Silence. Then the terrorist replied, “Well done.”

Parents have been saying this since the beginning. Our children are God’s before they are anyone else’s. And Scripture tells these stories too.

Isaac: The walk up the mountain

God commanded Abraham to bring Isaac to Mount Moriah. Abraham did not tell Isaac everything, but he did not hide from the moment either. When Isaac saw there was no lamb for the offering, he asked:

וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה־לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה בְּנִי וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו׃

vai-YO-mer a-v’ra-HAM, e-lo-HIM yir-EH-lo ha-SEH l’-o-LAH b’-NEE, va-YEL-khu sh’-nay-HEM ya-kh’-DAV

And Avraham said, “Hashem will see to the sheep for His burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them walked on together.

They climbed together. Isaac lay on the altar willingly. And at the final moment, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram instead.

This was not blind faith. It was trust that even when we cannot see the path, God holds it.

Samuel: A vow fulfilled

Hannah prayed for a child with tears and longing. When Samuel was born, she did not cling to him from fear of losing him again. She brought him to serve God in Shiloh, as she had vowed, saying:

וְגַם אָנֹכִי הִשְׁאִלְתִּהוּ לַיהֹוָה כָּל־הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר הָיָה הוּא שָׁאוּל לַיהֹוָה וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ שָׁם לַיהֹוָה׃

v’-GAM a-NO-khee hish-a-LEE-t’-HU la-do-NAI kol ha-ya-MEEM a-SHER ha-YA HU sha-UL la-do-NAI va-yish-ta-KHU sham la-do-NAI. {S}

I, in turn, hereby lend him to Hashem. For as long as he lives he is lent to Hashem.” And they bowed low there before Hashem.

Samuel grew up in the sanctuary, mentored by Eli the priest, and became the prophet who anointed kings and guided Israel. Hannah’s dedication did not distance him from greatness, it set his course.

Samson: A destiny announced before birth

Before Samson was born, an angel appeared to his mother and told her:

כִּי הִנָּךְ הָרָה וְיֹלַדְתְּ בֵּן וּמוֹרָה לֹא־יַעֲלֶה עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ כִּי־נְזִיר אֱלֹהִים יִהְיֶה הַנַּעַר מִן־הַבָּטֶן וְהוּא יָחֵל לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּד פְּלִשְׁתִּים׃

KEE hi-NAKH ha-RAH v’-yo-LAD-t’ BAYN u-mo-RAH lo ya-a-LEH al ro-SHO kee n’-ZEER e-lo-HEEM yih-YEH ha-NA-ar min ha-BA-ten v’-HU ya-KHAYL l’-ho-SHEE-a et yis-ra-AYL mi-YAD p’-lish-TEEM

For you are going to conceive and bear a son; let no razor touch his head, for the boy is to be a nazirite to Hashem from the womb on. He shall be the first to deliver Yisrael from the Philistines.”

Samson’s parents raised him knowing his mission did not originate with them. His life included triumph and struggle, strength and failure, but in the end he prayed to God one last time and fulfilled his purpose. His story began and ended in God’s hands.

These are not stories of parents stepping aside. Abraham walked with Isaac. Hannah brought Samuel with love. Samson’s parents taught him his calling.

They acted. They prayed. They trusted.

Faith does not replace effort. It completes it. We do our part, and God carries what we cannot.

That mother on the phone understood it instinctively. So did Abraham, Hannah, and Samson’s parents long before her.

We do not pretend to control the world.
We act with responsibility and courage.
And then we say what Jews have always said:

The world does not decide our children’s fate.
Terror does not decide.
Power does not decide.

God decides.