After two years of war and all that came with it, in one night it was over. Twenty live hostages were returned to us, and we are still waiting for the remains of the last of the murdered hostages. Reserve soldiers are still being called to serve, and many are engaged on several fronts in the ongoing conflict called a ceasefire. There are no celebrations of the end of war, no dancing in the streets, no fireworks. It is all too fragile; we are still too fragile. Among the changes that have occurred very quickly is the physical landscape that we came to know over the past two years. Some of the most enduring symbols and signs that held us together are gone, and strangely – I’m ashamed to admit – I am missing them.

The large, ubiquitous banners carrying the faces of hostages, and also those of soldiers who died in battle, are gone from the street corners. These are the faces of our heroes that were etched in our minds. We know their names, their smiles, their eyes. They were all too young, full of life when those photos were taken. Some fought valiantly to survive the tortures of captivity. Many gave their lives, that we might........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)