We’re still waiting for the call to tell us my brother is coming home
Opinion: Like Zachary Baumel and Zvi Feldman, my brother Yehuda Katz has been missing since 1982, but I still believe he will be found alive and well and expect Israel keep up the good work until all of our missing soldiers return
We felt tremendous pain for the tragic ending of Zachary’s life and the family’s loss, but also great satisfaction that they will know no more doubt, and that Zachary will finally have a Jewish burial.
The IDF informed us when the remains of Zachary were found, and I’m sure the Baumel family was incredibly relieved when they heard the news.
Our family has never given up hope. Knowing that the remains of Zachary were found makes our faith that our brother will also be found even stronger. I know and believe that he will be found alive, and we’re all certain that he will return to Israel safe and sound, despite the 37 years that have gone by.
We’ve been in contact with the IDF’s authority that handles MIA cases for years now. Sometimes the connection was frequent and at other times less so. We always make sure that the system doesn’t doze off and remembers to turn every rock until my brother and Zvi Feldman are both located.
It is our responsibility and what is expected of us as the family of a soldier who went out into battle. Israel has been doing its best to get our soldiers home and the finding of Zachary’s remains proves that.
We expect they keep up the good work until all of our missing soldiers come home.
I’ll visit the Baumel family soon. Only a handful of people can understand the experiences of a family who hasn’t seen a loved one for 37 years. We’ve been going through this nightmare together for so many years. In joy and sorrow, in good times and worse.
In two weeks we will celebrate the first night of Passover. That’s when the pain gets harder to bear. Since Yehuda went missing, we have no Saturday nor a holiday that is complete. Not a summer nor a winter, it’s all one long painful moment. But we will not give up.
I long for the day when the phone rings and someone on the other side of the line tells me that my brother is also on his way home.
