I just read two articles that were both touching and encouraging. Touching in the empathy shown and encouraging in the sense of what people are capable of doing for others.

1. Iscar, the employer of Noam Shalit, has been silent throughout the 5.5 years that Gilad was in captivity and Noam was fighting for his release. nobody knew about what Iscar was doing for Noam and Gilad. Now that the ordeal is over, they have spoken up. Not only is what they did so good, but their belief in others is encouraging - they believe they did nothing special, but any employer would have done the same.

Iscar, owned by the Wertheimer brothers, continued paying Noam Shalit's salary the entire time he was fighting for his son's release, without Noam showing up for work. And they had no idea how long it would take, but they had committed to do so regardless of how long it would take. And they believe they did nothign special, and any employer would do the same.

Besides for the salary, they made an apartment in Jerusalem available to the Shalit's for whenever they would need it, along with paying for many of the expenses along the way.

Would any other employer have done the same? Perhaps. I don't know. I would like to believe so. I would at least like to believe that any employer would do as much as he could for as long as he could, though it is obvious that not every employer has such resources available to actually do so for an unlimited amount of time.
Source: Ynetnews

2. The plot that flew Gilad Shalit home after his release had specifically requested to be the pilot for that flight. Why? Because his father had been the pilot on the flight from which Ron Arad disappeared 25 years ago.

The connection sends shivers up my spine.
source: Ynetnews