Shalit meets Sydney school students
Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who spent five years as a prisoner of Hamas, has addressed over 1800 senior school students in Sydney.
Gilad Shalit photo: Henry Benjamin
Shalit told students from Moriah College, the Emanuel School, Masada College, Kesser Torah College and Rose Bay public representing the Board of Jewish Education for “keeping me in your hearts” during the time of his captivity. Each school made a presentation to Gilad Shalit.
The assembly was held at Moriah College where Shalit visited the Junior school as they were celebrating Purim, Shalit went to the main auditorium which needed two sessions for him to get his message across.
He said: “Despite the loneliness I experienced during the years of my captivity, I drew strength from the knowledge that the Jewish people throughout the world were with me.and were working to secure my release.
It is because of this strength and the strength of this community that I am here today. I want to thank all of you for keeping me in your hearts. All of Israel is responsible for one another”
Shalit, now 26 and a sports journalist for an Israeli news source, is visiting Australia under the auspices of United Israel Appeal. He spoke of the UIA’s work with today’s children in Israel and “with the generations to come”.
He said: “My story is the best proof that we are one nation…one people.”
Shalit has visited Perth and Melbourne. In Perth he visited Sea World and in Sydney Taronga Park Zoo with a tour highlight of accomplishing the Harbour Bridge Climb.
A UIA spokesperson told J-Wire: “He especially enjoyed his time in Sydney meeting young people.”
Shalit has agreed to extend his visit in order to attend the UIA General Function in Sydney.
Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas on June 25, 2006 and released on October 18, 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal.
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