‘Hope is a choice’: Israeli ceremony honours acts of bravery

In front of hundreds of pre-military preparatory school students from across Israel, a ceremony in Jerusalem on Monday highlighted stories of courage, loss, and resilience as the “Sign of Courage and Hope” decorations were awarded to 78 individuals at the Museum of Tolerance in honour of the country’s 78th anniversary.

At the centre of the evening was the story of Agam Berger and her mother, Merav, who shared their experience during Agam’s captivity by Hamas and her return home. Agam, who played a violin belonging to a Holocaust survivor on stage, described her faith during captivity. “I always had the feeling that God was with me every step of the way,” she said. “I knew that the people of Israel would not give up on us and would fight.”

Her mother described a turning point after speaking with a rabbi while Agam was still held hostage. After hearing that Agam’s greatest fear was worrying about her family, she said she chose a deliberate response. “Then don’t give her a reason,” she recalled being told. “At that moment, I acted as if Agam could see me. I didn’t give her a reason to worry. I stood up to fight.”

The ceremony was organised by Ein Prat Leadership Academy, a pluralistic pre-military program for high school graduates and one of Israel’s best-known.

Host Avri Gilad opened the event by speaking about what he called an ongoing struggle for the country’s survival. “We are still in a struggle for the existence of the state,” he said, adding that the world often misjudges Israelis. He said Israelis are “made only of love,” and warned that beyond military fronts, “the most critical front is the internal front.”

Former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky also addressed the audience, recalling his years in prison. He said the imagined support of the Jewish people sustained him, and added: “They must feel every minute that the entire people of Israel is riding on them.”

Author and educator Miriam Peretz spoke about Jewish historical resilience and hope. “Hope is a choice,” she said, “to get out of bed and face it.”

The 78 recipients came from diverse backgrounds. Among them was Sami Al-Karinawi, a Muslim Israeli from Mitzpe Ramon who hosted families displaced from southern Israel. Dr Assi Sharon was recognised for leading police efforts to identify fallen soldiers and victims. Sarit Ohayon was honoured after losing her husband and son, who died defending the city of Ofakim during the Hamas attack.

A commander from the Kfir Brigade spoke about unity within Israeli society, describing his unit as a reflection of the country’s diversity. He read from a letter written by a fallen soldier who said, “If I have to die, then for the Land of Israel. This is the greatest privilege.” The commander added, “When I see this unity, I know with all my heart that we will win.”

The evening closed with reflections on resilience and shared responsibility, blending stories of battlefield sacrifice with personal endurance. As Agam Berger concluded, the message of the night was one of persistence despite hardship: “We will continue to walk with our truth, even if we walk alone on the path — we are truly here to stay.”