S.4 Ep.1/ “I’m Speaking On Behalf Of Those Who Are Still In Bondage”
“It’s not easy to talk about, but I’ve come to realize [that] when I talk about it, I am releasing the anger which was in me.”
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Hello everyone. This is Maya, managing producer of What Came After. Today is October 13, Simchat Torah eve, and I want to pull back the curtain just a little bit.
First, I want to share two blessings that I have had the great privlege to recite today with all of my heart:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה\' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה\' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים
Blessed are You, God our Lord, King of the universe, who releases the bound.
The time here in Israel is just coming up on 10:30AM. I (and many others) have been glued to the news for over 2 hours already, watching our hostages come home. As of right now, seven have crossed over safely into Israeli territory. And some of those still held by Hamas have had fraught but overjoyed video calls with their loved ones -- a situation that the anchors on KAN 11 news described as "psychological terror, but such happiness."
I cried while I was listening to the news. I am probably not alone in that. Today is a celebration. And tomorrow, Simchat Torah, will be a celebration as well. I hope that in the immediate future we find more reasons to celebrate than to mourn.
The guest on this week's episode of What Came After has been an outspoken advocate for the hostages in Gaza since the very beginning of the war. Simon Deng is a former slave from South Sudan, human rights activist, public speaker, and professional swimmer. He has lived in the United States since 1989 and has been a leader of the South Sudanese expatriate community since 1993.
We have wanted to spotlight Deng for over a year, and are very pleased to finally bring you this episode, which was recorded at his office in New York City.
On behalf of the whole What Came After team, I wish all of our listeners and followers a joyful and meaningful holiday. May we all know true peace within our lifetimes.
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Jerusalem" by Elijah Aaron
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