A Surprising Twist

Every Wednesday I volunteer at a conservative synagogue here in Ashkelon called Netzak Israel. I work in a kindergarten classroom for a couple of hours, interacting with the kids, struggling to communicate with my broken Hebrew. Their afternoons have a very specific structure: lunch time, a movie or various games, snack, story time, and then an art project. Today I found myself enthralled during story time when the teacher introduced the children's book as written by Gilad Shalit.

For anyone unfamiliar with Gilad Shalit, he is an Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas in 2006 and has since been held in captivity for over three years. A video was released last month showing a still living, albeit frail Shalit. This tragedy evokes a very raw place in all Israelis because just like them, he was drafted into his country's army at the age of 18. The issue is all too relevant and regardless of your politics, all too devastating.

This afternoon I was not expecting to hear the name Gilad Shalit in a room filled with four year olds. I was shocked to learn this was his own story. Shalit wrote a simple story at the age of 11 and it was published over a year ago into a children's book with dozens of artists filling in the pages. The book is truly beautiful, not just aesthetically but from what I could understand of the story told in Hebrew.

The story is one of a little fish and a shark. It begins with the two meeting for the first time and deciding to play together even though they were natural enemies. They then return to their homes where each are scolded by their parents who say they were wrong to go outside of their roles. The shark is supposed to eat the fish, and the fish is supposed to be scared of the shark. They avoided each other for a long time but after time passed the fish and the shark began to meet again in secret. The story ends with both the fish and the shark convincing their families that the other can be a friend and not an enemy. All fish and sharks go on to live in peace.

This simple story of a child is filled with depth and a level of foresight that is positively chilling. Most of the kids today were unaware of the story beyond the little fish and shark while every adult in the room was riveted. I looked at the innocent, oblivious faces in my classroom and was heartbroken knowing the tragedies they will one day have to learn and witness. I can only hope 11 year old Gilad's wish will come true and these beautiful children will only ever know that fish and sharks can live in peace.