From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 21, 2023
‘Thanks to you, I’ll sing with new enthusiasm’: Bocelli writes to freed hostage who used his music to endure captivity
On last week’s episode of Channel 12’s Uvda investigative program, 85-year-old Yaffa Adar shared her story of how she survived 49 days in Hamas captivity.
“Every morning, I’d sing Bocelli to myself and say, ‘God, maybe this will bring a good day. Maybe today will bring [my release],'” she recalled, admitting that for a long time that day never came.
The famous Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli learned about the interview and decided to reach out to Adar, penning a letter aired by Uvda on tonight’s program.
“Dearest Madam Yaffa Adar,” he writes.
“I wish I could give you a hug!”
“I would like to thank you for the emotion that your story aroused in all the people who had the privilege to listen to it and especially in me, as, quite incredibly, I am part of it!”
“I truly would never have thought that my humble voice, this great gift I undeservedly received from the heavens, could one day turn out to be so important!”
“There is no award, no applause, no honor or recognition, that is worth as much as your words, which I assure you, I shall never forget.”
“Thanks to you, from now on, I shall sing with renewed enthusiasm, with renewed faith, with new energy.”
“I hope to be able to meet you one day and sing, just for you, whatever you may wish, so as to erase, as much as possible, the painful memory of terrible days, which I cannot even imagine.”
“I deeply admire your courage, which is an example for us all. From the other side of the ocean, I send you my warmest regards, full of gratitude, admiration and affection.”
Uvda airs footage of Adar’s granddaughter reading Bocelli’s letter to her for the first time.
“Wow! Wow! Wow! What an honor! Andrea Bocelli!” she exclaims, pressing the letter to her chest.
