Itamar: Building - the Response to Terror

In Jewish tradition, mourning is broken into three periods: Shiva (the first seven days), when we sit on low stools, wear torn clothes and do not leave the house unless absolutely necessary, Shloshim (the first 30 days) when we do not shave, do not bathe in hot water except before the Sabbath (there are different customs on this point) and do not attend celebrations, and the year when - in the case of the death of parents only - we do not attend celebrations and for the first eleven months the sons recite the Kaddish prayer at each of the three daily services. I'm oversimplifying, but that's basically accurate.

Sunday marked 30 days since the murder of Udi and Ruti Fogel and their children Yoav, Elad and Hadas HY"D (may God avenge their blood). There was a communal observance in their hometown of Itamar on Sunday and a ground breaking for a permanent yeshiva building and study hall for the yeshiva in which Udi taught, which will be named after him.

Let's go to the videotape (Hat Tip: David H).

Rabbi Yehuda Ben-Yishai, father of Ruth Fogel, said, “Our Udi and our Ruti, you are watching us. You are wondering what all the fuss is about. You yourselves never realized what you had in your souls... Simple modestly and humility, humanity. You brought many different kinds of people together. They loved you."

“Now you are going to be more than what we knew... Ask G-d to grant us strength, wisdom, and resourcefulness. As part of the Jewish people, for the Jewish people.”

Chaim Fogel, Rabbi Udi Fogel's father, said, “You married in Beit Orot, opposite the site of the Holy Temple, as you requested. [You lived in] Eli, Mevaseret, Netzarim. You were expelled [from Gush Katif] and stood proud, and continued to draw the world closer to Torah.. Ariel, Itamar. We felt that you had found your place in Itamar.”

“Every place you stopped in life, you were loved by your friends, Udi. Because you had those qualities that make a person a friend.

Read the whole thing.

Labels: Fogel family massacre, Itamar, Palestinian terrorism

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:27 AM