This week marked an emotional milestone that offered closure after nearly two and half excruciating years. The return of Ran Gvili’s body means that every hostage has returned, and for the first time in 12 years there are no Israelis held captive in Gaza.

To quote Ran’s brother, Omri: “Today I can say that our lives can go on.”

One of the most moving accounts of Ran’s return was a video of soldiers singing when they heard the news that his body was identified. After 843 days of war and striving to do what many assumed would be impossible — bring every hostage home — these soldiers witnessed the moment that all of Israeli society and Jews around the world were praying for.

And they broke into song.

It is poignant that this week is known as Shabbat Shirah — Shabbat of Song — because the Torah portion includes the story of the Israelites escaping Egypt, crossing the sea, and singing shirat hayam, or “the song of the sea,” when they were finally free (Exodus 15).

There is a debate among Biblical commentators about a seemingly minor detail in the story. When, exactly, did the Israelites sing the song? Was it while they were crossing the sea, or when they arrived at the other side? What an extraordinary question, with implications for how we understand our ancestors’ experience and the nature of their song.

It makes sense that they would sing upon reaching the other side. After the harrowing escape from Egypt, they cross the sea and sing a song of joy and relief. It is cathartic: At last, we made it. The video of the soldiers singing this week reminded me of this song.

But there is another reading as well. Perhaps the Israelites sang while they were crossing the sea, not after emerging successfully. Imagine the walls of water suspended on each side of you, and it’s unclear whether they would hold or drown you at any moment. The Egyptian army is chasing you from behind, and it’s unclear whether they will catch or kill you.

At the same time, you have just witnessed a miracle with your own eyes and are on your way to freedom, hundreds of years of slavery about to be over. You are still going through an experience fraught with anxiety, unknown, trauma, as well as relief, excitement, hope.

Filled with all these emotions, what do the Israelites do? They sing.

Author Avivah Zornberg calls this “the complex reality” of song, a melody of hope and joy that also contains fear, pain, and loss. That is another way to understand the song of the sea, and the video of the soldiers singing this week reminded me of this as well.

These are the songs we sing — together — throughout our history, and during these past two and half years. They are songs of resilience that sustain us as a Jewish People, songs we will continue to share and sing for generations to come.