"Shema Yisrael kept me going" – Eli Sharabi on the faith that sustained him in captivity

Eli Sharabi, the ex-hostage released earlier this month in a deal with Hamas, gave a dramatic and inspiring interview to Ilana Dayan on Israel’s Uvda program.

In his remarks, he said, among other things, moving words about the sanctification of God's name: "I'm not a religious person, but there, from the first day I was kidnapped, every morning I said 'Shema Yisrael,' which I never said in my life. The power of faith is insane. There's something watching over you."

Sharabi said that in the tunnel where he was held with three other hostages, the four created a common code language for themselves, through which they could talk about the terrorists – in their presence. "We invented a language. Everyone has their own nickname, so we can talk about them and they won't recognize that we're talking about them. There's the triangle and the square, and the round and orange – because he's redhead, and there's the trash, which is a very, very cruel person."

Eli, 51, was kidnapped from his safe room in the house where he lived in Kibbutz Be'eri. Eli's wife, Lian, a British citizen who immigrated to volunteer on the kibbutz, and their two daughters, Noya and Yahel, were murdered by the terrorists that day.

Eli's brother, Yossi, lives next to him in Kibbutz Be'eri and was also kidnapped to the Gaza Strip. Yossi died in Hamas captivity, his family was informed a year ago, but his body is still being held in the Gaza Strip.

Sharon Sharabi, Eli's brother, recently revealed the horrors his brother went through in captivity. In an interview he gave to Kol Barama, Sharon said that his brother "came back in a difficult situation, things are opening up slowly. We are optimistic that he will have a new life."

Regarding the torture Eli underwent in captivity, Sharon said: "He underwent torture and extreme starvation under the Nazis. He also said that "the victory is that he has returned home," and mentioned that they do not forget his brother Yossi, whose body is still being held captive by Hamas.

"He said the Shema Yisrael every day," Sharon added. "They made Kiddush every Friday night and sang 'Eshet Chayil,' that's what kept them going, their spirit held them together."