Oath in Entebbe

It was a normal yearly routine visit for Raphael, a 16 year old Brazilian who was studying at the Netiv Meir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Growing up in Sao Paulo he decided to become stronger in his Jewish roots by spending two years studying Torah in Israel. On his return flight back to visit family and friends, it was suddenly hijacked by Arab terrorists, and he had a kippa on his head. This is a true story of one passenger within Operation Entebbe.

In midair the team of terrorists ushered out the first class passengers with their hands behind their heads. Holding a grenade, one of the terrorists started to speak to the hostages, “We are on a mission to release Palestinian prisoners, NOW WE WANT YOUR PASSPORTS!”  Raphael was very scared, although he had a Brazilian passport; he had an identity card that showed he was a volunteer in the Israeli police. He knew if they found that, he’d be in danger so he ate the card. The terrorists were keeping an eye on everyone who was trying to hide anything.

The plane made a sharp left turn, it was originally on its way to Paris, now all of a sudden it was heading toward Africa. After landing in Libya, the passengers were hot and filled with stress. The plane was refueled and then took off again and landed in Uganda. Staring outside the window Raphael could see a hundred Ugandan soldiers lined up across the airport with weapons.

At this point a selection was being made; Israelis and non-Jews were put into separate places. Raphael did his best to keep kosher and put Tefillin on every day. He limited his diet to bananas, apples and milk. While being held hostage within the terminal Raphael and his close friend decided that they would not split up no matter what, if one would be freed and the other held back, they both would stay together. One thing bothered them however, the terrorist were keeping their eyes on them more so than the other hostages, they knew they were being watched closely.

Ironically enough Raphael and his close friend ‘befriended’ one of the terrorists who also turned out to be from Brazil. They spoke Portuguese with him and told him they were on their way back to Brazil to see a certain soccer game. The two asked the terrorist who his favorite team was, and then agreed that the same team was their favorite team! The terrorist assured them that he would look into any possibility to get them out.

After a while the other terrorists took and separated them both for about five hours of interrogation. Looking at their Brazilian passports they were asked countless questions and then were accused of being liars, the situation was getting worse. Raphael then found himself in prayer. He took an oath and promised Hashem that if he were to survive this ordeal he would give three years of his life to the Jewish people.

On Thursday the head terrorist said that they will let one hundred of the non-Jewish hostages free. The two friends made contact with the Brazilian terrorist and he guaranteed them that he had put their names on the list to be freed. Names started to be called…

As time went on and each name was called, the two grew more and more nervous. Their names had not been called. It was very stressful and as the last ten names were called out, they grew in worry. The last name on the list of one hundred hostages was Raphael’s but his friend’s name was not called. They stayed together, brought their bags and went to the departing plane. The terrorist who was checking the hostages boarding noticed that her count was now at 101 hostages and not 100, she started yelling at them. The two both attempted to explain to her that the other terrorist had arranged and approved both of their release. After a bit of tension and clarification they both were approved to board the plane. They were now free.

Upon returning to his hometown Raphael remembered the oath he made and decided to open a Yeshiva in Cotia, Brazil named Ohr Yisrael. His three year promise of giving to the nation of Israel has now turned into 25 years. The yeshiva has had around 600 students, many of which have gone off to marry and start their own observant Jewish homes. It’s funny to think, here these terrorist were trying to kill Jews and the result is that one Jew opened a Yeshiva for hundreds to carry on our tradition of Torah! That is the message of terrorism, no matter how much our enemies try to take away from us, it only makes us stronger and multiply.