Natalie and Judith Raanan spoke with President Biden after their release on Friday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
A few weeks before the trip, this was all Judith Raanan could talk about.
It was going to be great: three generations of women would spend precious time together in Israel, a country whom she grew up with and loved so dearly.
Her daughter Natalie, soon to be 18, was on the cusp of adulthood, and at least for now she could spend some time with her child, before throwing themselves into the world.
After a month of traveling around the country together, they visited her mother at her small kibbutz in southern Israel, which has a chicken coop and a dairy farm.
Here the women celebrated their 85th birthday. the anniversary of her mother Tamar and the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, which marks the end of the annual Torah reading.
Natalie, a fashion fanatic and acrylic nail enthusiast, had just graduated from Deerfield High School, located near their home in suburban Chicago, and was ready for a break.
Judith and Natalie Raanan spent a month traveling together in Israel. Photo: REUTERS
Exploring Israel, a country with which she had deep ties despite growing up in the US, would help take her mind off having to decide whether to seek work in the fashion industry, interior design or as an apprentice tattoo artist.
Judit, who often went by the Hebrew name Yehudit, an artist and talented cook, sent news to her local rabbi Meir Hecht that the trip was “really special.”
Yehudis Hecht, “dear friend” Judith, 59, and wife of local rabbi Hecht, said she is a “generous, loving, creative and talented person.”
She told The Telegraph: “She always wanted to help, bring gifts and be there for everyone, and she went to Israel on a long trip to celebrate her mother's 85th birthday and spend time with family and friends.”
Nathalie Raanan with her father Uri in Mexico Photo: AP
But on October 7, their perfect vacation turned into a horrific nightmare so bad it's hard understand.
While the family was celebrating together at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, about a mile from the Gaza border, a group of murderous terrorists attacked the community.
Hamas went from house to house, killing and kidnapping every Israeli they saw. could be found, the women hid in a safe room, praying not to be discovered.
Natalie sent her father Uri Raanan frantic text messages, telling him that she heard gunshots and explosions and that her phone signal was bad. Then they heard nothing.
A neighbor on the kibbutz said he saw Hamas take Judith and Natalie from the window.
Footage posted on social media media appears to show Hamas terrorists arriving at the kibbutz on motorcycles. Photo: TWITTER
A mother and daughter were among more than 100 hostages kidnapped by terrorists as they killed 1,400 Israelis.
Israel responded with airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 4,000 people, and said it would act to free the hostages while destroying Hamas.
For 13 days, Natalie and Judith's loved ones did not know. they were alive or dead, and all they could do was pray for their safe return.
Mr. Ra'anan posted updates in Hebrew on his Facebook page and changed his profile photo to a tear-stained eye with a Star of David on the student.
The family contacted President Joe Biden, who assured them he was doing everything possible to secure their release.
On Friday, it was reported that Hamas was set to release two American hostages, later identified as Natalie and Judith.
It was not immediately clear why they were chosen as the first hostages to be released, except that a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, The Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades said they were released “on humanitarian grounds” in response to Qatari mediation.
A source briefed on hostage negotiations called the release of the two Americans a “first step,” adding that “discussions on further releases are ongoing.”
The mother and daughter were later photographed clasping the Israeli's hands. Brigadier General of the Defense Forces (IDF) Gal Hirsch was escorted from the border immediately after the liberation.
When 71-year-old Raanan learned that his daughter and ex-wife were being released, he could not believe the “wonderful” news. He said he spoke to Natalie on the phone and she was “doing well.”
“I’m in tears,” he said. “And I feel very, very good.”
Natalie turns 18 next week, and he hopes they can celebrate together in Chicago.
Ms. Hecht said there were “no words to express our deep gratitude to God” for the release of her friend and her daughter.
“We pray for each hostage that they too will be released safely, and we pray for all Israel and we pray for the safety of all Jews,” she said.
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