Rav Berland Promised to the Father of the Captive Ran Gvili: Read Parashat Vayeshev and in Shevat Ran Will Be Released from Gaza
The promise of the righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a to the father of the last captive Ran Gvili who returned today from Gaza after 843 days
On the morning of the Black Shabbat - Shemini Atzeret 5784, Sergeant Ran Gvili did not wait for orders. Despite being on medical leave with a broken shoulder, the 24-year-old Yassam fighter donned his uniform and went into the inferno. He saved dozens of revelers from the "Nova" party and fought bravely at Kibbutz Alumim, where he fell in battle and his body was taken to Gaza.
For 843 days, Ran Gvili was defined as the last captive remaining in the strip, until today he was rescued in a military operation and brought to burial in Israel. Ran Gvili, known as "the protector of Alumim," became a symbol of supreme sacrifice – the fighter who went out first to save lives and returned last to the land he defended with his body.
Now we are publishing for the first time that about two weeks ago on the night of the 25th of Tevet (January 13, 2026), Itzik Gvili, the father of the captive Ran Gvili, came to our teacher the Rav shlit"a to receive his blessing for the quick release of Ran Gvili.
Our teacher the Rav shlit"a strengthened him and among other things, our teacher the Rav shlit"a instructed him, "Read Parashat Vayeshev about Yosef the righteous who was in prison, read the parasha every day and in Shevat he will be released."
The father of the captive asked our teacher the Rav shlit"a if there is a chance that his son - Ran Gvili is still alive, the Rav answered him with a strengthening smile: Whoever is kidnapped is always alive, like our Rebbe - Rebbe Nachman, he is always alive!
On the morning of the Black Shabbat - Shemini Atzeret 5784, Sergeant Ran Gvili did not wait for orders. Despite being on medical leave with a broken shoulder, the 24-year-old Yassam fighter donned his uniform and went into the inferno. He saved dozens of revelers from the "Nova" party and fought bravely at Kibbutz Alumim, where he fell in battle and his body was taken to Gaza.
For 843 days, Ran Gvili was defined as the last captive remaining in the strip, until today he was rescued in a military operation and brought to burial in Israel. Ran Gvili, known as "the protector of Alumim," became a symbol of supreme sacrifice – the fighter who went out first to save lives and returned last to the land he defended with his body.
Now we are publishing for the first time that about two weeks ago on the night of the 25th of Tevet (January 13, 2026), Itzik Gvili, the father of the captive Ran Gvili, came to our teacher the Rav shlit"a to receive his blessing for the quick release of Ran Gvili.
Our teacher the Rav shlit"a strengthened him and among other things, our teacher the Rav shlit"a instructed him, "Read Parashat Vayeshev about Yosef the righteous who was in prison, read the parasha every day and in Shevat he will be released."
The father of the captive asked our teacher the Rav shlit"a if there is a chance that his son - Ran Gvili is still alive, the Rav answered him with a strengthening smile: Whoever is kidnapped is always alive, like our Rebbe - Rebbe Nachman, he is always alive!
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