Family in Captivity ........ exclusive screening

The acclaimed documentary Family in Captivity, produced by our special guest Tamar Pross, provides an unprecedented insight into the Shalit Family and their struggle to free their son.

The film is an intimate story that follows the day to day efforts of the Shalit family to cope and bring Gilad home. Through their story, we exit the political realm to see the human angle of this difficult ordeal in a story that is universally relate-able. This incredible film gives unprecedented access to the Shalit family, and shows how private and anonymous individuals rise to become national symbols.

Gilad Shalit was released from captivity on 18 October 2011.

In many ways his release can be attributed to the amazing strength and perseverance of his family, to never give up, and to ensure that Gilad's safe return was constantly reinforced across Israel and the Jewish world. The film Family in Captivity played a major part in ensuring that Gilad Shalit remained in the consciousness of the world. This is the power that brought him home.

Guest Speakers

Tamar Pross

We are priviledged to have Tamar Pross, the executive producer of Family in Captivity, as our special guest for 2012. Over the past 4 years she has become an integral part of the 'extended' Shalit family and will provide her first hand account of Gilad's emotional return and his life since returning to Israel.

Colonel Ilan Egozi

We are also delighted to also have Colonel Ilan Egozi, the executive director of ZDVO in Israel. He was a member of IDF's elite frogman unit "Shayetet 13". He was captured in 1967 after a raid in the Egyptian harbour. While the mission was a success, the submarine collecting him and his soldiers was not in the pick-up location after being scared off by Egyptian Navy. After spending one month in captivity (until Israel could broker a release) he decided to stay in captivity until Mossad operatives from the "Lavon Affair" could be released as well. This took an EXTRA SEVEN MONTHS. He spent a total of eight months in captivity as a PoW.

He was awarded with a 'Distinguished Service Decoration' for bravery for his part in the famous Shayetet 13 raid on Green Island in 1969. His citation recounted: "On the night of July 19-20, 1969, in the battle for Green Island, First Lieutenant Egozi was the commander of the squad responsible for breaking through the position's defences. While cutting through the fence, he discovered Egyptian soldiers looking around the rooftop of their position, illuminating the area with their flashlights. Fearing discovery, he opened fire and ordered his men to attack." He was seriously wounded but continued to carry on the operation, and "was the last on the boat to evacuate his position. "

Ilan was wounded in February 1973, "Spring of Youth" took place in April 1973 and he was not a part of part of that operation which was to assassinate the leaders of the PLO in the heart of Beirut. This operation was made famous by Steven Spielberg in "Munich". He was critically wounded while on a combat mission in the North of Lebanon with his men. He lost his arm and eyesight in one eye, when he picked up an enemy live grenade in order to save 2 of his comrades. The mission was a huge success and once again he received a 'Medal of Courage' He served in the Naval Commando during the Yom Kippur War. After his rehabilitation at Beit Halochem, he earned his BSC in industrial engineering from the Technion in Haifa , served as head of Budget & Control for the Israeli Navy, and earned a MBA from Tel Aviv University. After his studies he still served a further 2 years in the Shayetet before moving on to be charge of Budget and Control of the Navy.