I am riveted to the television in our hotel room watching from 3pm on to 6:30pm as three separate funerals begin in three different locations. The eulogies are heartbreaking and the pain of the family members, and indeed all of Israel, is choking in its magnitude. These three families are so dignified and so unified in their belief that love must come from this and not revenge. It is very moving and fills my heart completely. The three bodies are clothed in Israeli flags. There are no coffins in the burial practice of Israel. You must connect with the earth from which you were created. After the three separate local funerals the bodies and families are driven to Modi'in for burial side by side. These boys will forever be remembered together, as victims of violence in a place where peace is sought after but rarely achieved. Modi'in...the home to the Maccabees, who fought against hatred towards Jewish practice. As the funeral is broadcast the police tape of the emergency call the boys made in the midst of the kidnapping is shared with the country. It is the voice of Gil-ad, only 16, who whispers 'they have kidnapped me'. The phone falls to the floor of the ambush vehicle and after a minute cuts out. How brave was that call? How stoic was that voice? Gil-ad's father speaks about that in his eulogy of his only son. Four police officers have been fired for not responding to the call quickly enough...for not taking it seriously enough. Because of that call, it is likely, the boys were shot immediately and disposed of in the field by Huldah.
When the bodies and the families come together in Modi'in, thousands have gathered. There have been free buses to Modi'in from nearly everywhere in Israel to be with the families and Israelis have responded in great numbers. This is important, this is galvanizing, this is something that needs to be witnessed. Netanyahu and Shimon Peres speak beside the three flag draped bodies. The entire country is together in tears.
Later that evening, Rabbi and I are at a lecture at the Hartman Institute. The lecture turns out to be an interview with Ari Shavit, author of My Promised Land. We are outdoors in an amphitheatre. In the background we hear many sirens and some shots. If we were at home, we would think 'fireworks'...but here we know there are riots happening.
By morning time the news in Jerusalem is that there was anti-Arab protesting by some Jews and the body of a 15 year old Palestinian was found in the Jerusalem Forest. It is reported that some of the protesters were shouting 'death to arabs'. Somewhere in the west bank, it is reported that grafitti appeared that read in hebrew...'price tag: Jewish revenge'. How quickly are my emotions being challenged. But that has always been my experience in Israel. Things move quickly here...and you are affected deeply and you have to question where is it that you will stand.
By late afternoon I get notice of a gathering in Jerusalem. The title of the gathering is 'We Mourn: not Avenge'. The group organizing the event is Tag Meir. This inter-religious organization promotes peace through education and action. There are many groups and factions in Israel and I am nervous about supporting any one of them. So often there are hidden agendas I would not be comfortable with. I investigate and I find out that IRAC, Israel Religious Action Center, is supporting the event. That helps me. I am an admirer of Anat Hoffman, well known for heading Women of the Wall, who oversees IRAC in Jerusalem. Reading more I find that the goal of the gathering is to mourn not only the three Israeli boys murdered, but also three Palestine youth killed in the search for the murderers of the Israeli youth.
I walk to the area and the location has been changed so there is no gathering at Kikar Hachatulot. My friends and I stop to eat dinner at a small pub...Hummus, Israeli Salad and Breads. While we are eating a parade of youth with Israeli flags draped around their necks and police following them go by. As demonstrations go it seems there are two camps...those who would mourn both Israeli and Palestinian deaths and not avenge and those who would seek revenge for the deaths of the three Israeli youth murdered. Later I learn that the Tag Meir gathering moved to Kikar Tzion.
Read more about the gathering by clicking here.
This is the complexity of Israel. This is the place of discernment and the asking of where you stand. It is not a simple question. I am not entirely sure where I stand.
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