Gush Etzion – Tears, Prayers And Calls For Justice As Heartbroken Israelis Gather To Comfort Families Of Murdered Boys

Gush Etzion – Hundreds have gathered around the homes of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach hy’d, in a show of support for the families of the murdered boys whose bodies were found today.

According to Israeli news source Maariv, the Sephardic chief rabbi of Elad, Rabbi Mordechai Malka, Mayor Yisroel Porush and police representatives have all come share the Yifrach family’s sorrow during this unspeakable time. Eyal’s parents, Iris and Uri, are also surrounded by their large extended family.

“I was in the house and I found the family members immersed in their prayers and being embraced by the entire community,” said Elad official Shmuel Grossbard.

“There is great tension, immense sorrow,” reported Rabbi Malka. “The only thing that is keeping the family going is the unity within the Jewish nation, who is with them in their sorrow. The family asks that Jews everywhere should continue the love and achdus that have been prevalent during their ordeal.”

One of the neighbors, a banker who dealt regularly with the family, could be heard sobbing, “There is no security for our children. Bibi, I am turning to you to inflict the death penalty on these conspirators. Turn Gaza into a desert. I don’t believe that they should be allowed to walk freely in our country while we live in fear.”

In Nof Ayalon, home of Naftali Frenkel, friends and neighbors gathered around the family home. A tent that had been used as a place of prayer during the 18 day ordeal has become a gathering site for teens and youths, singing songs in memory of the murdered boys.

“We have been optimistic till now and have been busy praying for their safe return but today is very difficult,” said Lior Maimon, a neighbor of the Frenkel family. “As Jews, we are believers, the sons of believers, and we know that we have to accept the good as well as the bad.”

“I want to thank the entire Jewish nation who davened with us and we are devastated that this didn’t end differently,” said Josh Patt, head of Nof Ayalon.

In Talmon, home of Gilad Shaar, there is an aching silence, as residents sit silently in their homes trying to comprehend the incomprehensible.

“At a time like this, there is no way to comfort anyone, it is impossible,” said Revid Sharon, head of the settlement. “Knowing that the pain is shared makes it a little more bearable.”

Gilad’s parents, Ofir and Bat Galim, have been joined by their parents and extended family and Rabbi Rami Berachyahu paid the family a short visit.

Social workers are working with the children in the settlement in age appropriate groups as preparations begin for the levayas of the three murdered youths.

Davidi Perel, head of Gush Etzion, expressed his sorrow on the killings of the three teens “by bnei bliyaal, who possess not even a drop of humanity. These murderers hoped to weaken the Jewish settlements in Gush Etzion and in all of Israel and the Israeli government has to respond with an overwhelming response, an all out war that will annihilate anyone who is involved in actions such as this, with an answer that will make it clear that we are firmly entrenched in our land and with the continued building of new lives in the very same places where they have taken lives.”

The Bnei Akiva movement issued a statement saying, “in the last two weeks we have all joined together in prayer and the hope that the kidnapped boys would come home safely. With the bitter news today we have decided to postpone our traditional summer opening that was to take place tomorrow and we hope to have the opportunity to offer support to the Shaar, Frenkel and Yifrach families.”