Beverly Hilton Hosts Gilad Shalit Homecoming Event

The Los Angeles Jewish community came together Tuesday morning at the to celebrate the release of 25-year-old Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas supporters inside Israel’s borders on June 25, 2006.

After 1,941 days, Shalit is finally back home on Israeli soil.

Beny Alagem, an expat Israeli who purchased the Beverly Hilton in 2003, worked feverishly with the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles and the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles to bring the Jewish community together in his hotel ballroom.

Hundreds of people came from all over the county for the 7 a.m. event. They filled the chairs and lined the walls; necks craned to see the two huge screens beaming live footage from Israeli television. They cheered, applauded and wiped away tears of joy when Shalit appeared on the screen. 

Although Shalit was actually released during the middle of the night local time, attendees at Tuesday’s event were on hand to witness his return to his hometown of Mitzpe Hila.

As the crowd filled up on coffee, juice and pastries, the live stream showed Shalit walking out of the mouth of an Israeli army helicopter to a waiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli news commentator noted how gaunt and pale Shalit looked.

Westwood resident Carole Shnier said she came to the early morning event to share a historic moment.

“It’s very surreal because there was disbelief that this day would ever come,” she said. “It’s bittersweet, but I’m thrilled and proud to be a Jew and a supporter of the state of Israel.”

Richard Sandler of the Jewish Federation addressed the crowd.

“We come together today as one community and one people to support Gilad Shalit and his family, our brothers and sisters in the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and the state of Israel,” he said.

The morning program included addresses by local rabbis and Los Angeles city officials, all of whom spoke about the joy of bringing Shalit home, and also about the release of thousands of inmates from Israeli prisons in return for Shalit’s freedom.

“This is an amazing moment that we can all experience firsthand. It was a gut- wrenching decision for all of us. We are relieved to witness Gilad’s return but our hearts are heavy,” Israeli Consul General David Siegel said. “The anguish of bereaved families of victims of terror and what the future may bring is in our minds.”

Nonetheless, Siegel said Israel’s decisions came from a great internal strength.

“We uphold the sanctity of life,” he said. “Ours is not a society that celebrates in the release of cold-blooded murderers.”

Siegel also thanked the Los Angeles community for actively seeking the release of Shalit over the past five years.

L.A. County 3rd District Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said the only thought that came to his mind was the difference in the celebrations in Israel and Gaza.

“Israel, the Jewish people and all freedom-loving people celebrate with Gilad but in Gaza thousands are celebrating the release of murderers,” Yaroslavsky said.

Fifth District Councilman Paul Koretz cited the Jewish caveat that if you save one person it is as if you have saved the whole world.

“Israel has passed that test today,” he said. “I’ve never been so proud. It’s great to be here and celebrate with the Jewish community and everyone in the world who cares about what’s right.”

Third District Councilman Dennis Zine pledged to continue to work with Rotary International and the Israeli consul general to find a way to create a long-term peace accord.

“We need to recognize that the terrorists being released still pose a threat to Israel,” he said.

Although the official morning ceremony concluded with a prayer for peace by many of Los Angeles’ local rabbis, some guests stayed to watch the live Israeli feed of Shalit’s father, Noam, talk to the crowds outside his home. Many attendees seemed reluctant to leave. 

Shoshi Wichfort, who lives in Bel-Air, said she came to the event to be part of history surrounded by her community. 

“I’m Israeli in my neshama [soul],” she told Patch. “I couldn’t be anywhere else but here this morning.”

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