“Berachamim Gedolim Akabtzeim” — A Moving New Song For The Return of The Hostages

As Israel awaits the long-hoped-for return of the hostages to their families, a new and deeply moving single has just been released, inspired by the words of the Prophet Isaiah:
“For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you.”
This verse, one of Isaiah’s most powerful messages of consolation, has resonated across generations, echoing both pain and hope.

The song was composed by Professor Zehavit Gross, Head of the Sal Van Gelder Center for Holocaust Instruction and Research in the Faculty of Education at Bar-Ilan University, and performed with heartfelt emotion by singer-songwriter and arranger Amiran Dvir.
It is being released during a deeply challenging time for the people of Israel, in the shadow of October 7 and the “Iron Swords” war. Carrying a message of consolation, faith, and unity, the song is dedicated to the hostages and their families, to those who have been freed from captivity and are now healing from trauma to the wounded and their loved ones, to the soldiers of the IDF fighting on the front lines, and to the memory of the fallen.

From History to the Present

Throughout Jewish history, this very verse was cited by rabbis in sermons during times of persecution and sorrow—especially after the Holocaust—to offer the Jewish people strength in their darkest hours.
Professor Gross, whose research focuses on educational healing and salutogenic resilience among youth, developed during the war a groundbreaking model she calls “The Pedagogy of Consolation.”
This innovative educational approach weaves together biblical verses, weekly Torah portions, mindfulness, social-emotional learning, and creative thinking to help young people build resilience and hope.

She has presented this model at leading universities around the world—including Cornell, Bucharest, Vienna, and Oxford—and is now completing a forthcoming book offering practical tools for working with displaced communities and students in times of crisis, based on this unique pedagogy.

The Moment the Song Was Born

Professor Gross recalls that the idea for the song was born during a lecture she gave at an international conference at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in late August 2023—just one month before the war broke out.During the Q&A, a researcher from China asked her:“How did your people survive the Holocaust and remain faithful?”

In a moment of inspiration, the verse from Isaiah came to her mind. She answered the question through the lens of that verse—and on her way back to the hotel, moved to tears, she began to compose the melody in her heart.

Since then, these words have accompanied her through key moments—from her pre-war lectures and encounters with students, to the heartbreaking moment on Simchat Torah, when the news of the attacks broke during the holiday celebrations.
She continues to share this verse in her educational work with displaced families and teenagers, through workshops and study sessions.

A Song of Consolation and Renewal

Now, once again, at the beginning of our new year—after the Jewish festivals (“Achar HaChagim”)—as the hostages begin to return home,
Professor Gross offers this song to the people of Israel:
a song of consolation, hope, and faith—a prayer for healing, unity, and redemption, and a reminder of the eternal promise:“With great compassion I will gather you.”

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