They Will Come Weeping, And I Will Bring Them In Supplication... (Yirmiyohu 31:8)
The Jumbo hovered over Cairo airport in the night's darkness before it touched down gently on the main airstrip. As it sped along the tarmac to be swallowed up into the blackness, a fleet of ambulances and fire fighting vehicles followed it in silence. Suddenly, a gigantic explosion rocked the airport and rounds of gunfire were heard. Only later did it transpire that the passengers had been removed to safety before their airliner had been destroyed.
The Torah world was in an uproar when it learned that HaRav Hutner and his family, who had been returning to the United States after a visit to Eretz Yisroel, were among the passengers being held hostage. Massive public prayer gatherings were held and intercessors worked frantically to end the ordeal. The Steipler zt'l and ylct'a HaRav Shach met with the Prime Minister and members of the government to inform them of HaRav Hutner's standing in the Torah world. Frightening rumors emanated from the Zarka Desert where the captives were being held and Torah Jewry was bewildered.
In the darkness of captivity, amid the explosions and the firing, HaRav Hutner was engaged in some soul searching of his own. "My spirit throbs with Chazal's words, `Rabbon Shimon ben Gamliel and Rabbi Yishmoel were on their way to their execution. Rabbon Shimon said to Rabbi Yishmoel, "My teacher, my heart has left me because I do...
