Joe Hollander, chairman of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County, lights three candles during the July 2 memorial service for three Israeli teens who were kidnapped and killed in June. The murders of three Israeli teens have become a rallying point for the global Jewish community, with members of many local congregations gathering to support one another at a time of immense grief.
“The kidnapping of the teens is something that affected a lot of people because, how can you justify it?” Keith Krivitzky, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County, said at a memorial service on July 2 at Temple Beth Ahm in Aberdeen.
“People have felt a need, even before the news that they were found killed, to connect with other people and feel some strength in community.”
A somber overflow crowd that included many members of local denominations attended the memorial service for Eyal Yifrah, Naftali Fraenkel and Gilad Shaar. The local federation organized the event in honor of the youths, who were kidnapped in Jerusalem June 12 and whose bodies were found 18 days later.
The Stern family of Morganville, including Erik, 12, Alex, 14, Robyn and Gregg, share a hug during the memorial service. Rabbi Lisa S. Malik of Temple Beth Ahm began the service with a reading of “Psalm 23” in Hebrew and English, and explained the purpose of the memorial service.
“For 18 days, the global Jewish community prayed for the safe return of the yeshiva boys,” Malik said. “Their images will be forever imprinted on our minds, our hearts and our souls.”
Eyal, 19, was a budding guitarist; Naftali, 16, loved playing basketball; and Gilad, 16, was pursuing a hobby as a pastry chef before the kidnappings, Malik said.
“Why do we cry for these boys even though none of us knew them personally,” Malik asked. “We cry, first and foremost, because we value human life, and we especially grieve the murder of innocents.”
Congregations represented included Ahavat Olam, Howell; B’nai Israel, Rumson; Kol Am, Freehold; Sons of Israel, Manalapan; Torat El, Ocean Township; Freehold Jewish Center; Marlboro Jewish Center; Monmouth Reform Temple, Tinton Falls; Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro; and Temple Shari Emeth, Manalapan.
A memorial service was also held the prior evening at Temple Shari Emeth.
State Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth) said the murders of the students have affected people beyond the borders of Israel and the Jewish community.
“This tragedy is particular to the Jewish people,” Handlin said. “But, the terrible experience of senseless death is, sadly, a universal tragedy.”
Joe Hollander, board chairman of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County, lit three candles to “bring peace to the souls of [the three boys].”
“We light these candles to remember Eyal, Naftali and Gilad. They were taken too soon and too violently from this world,” Hollander said. “We grieve over what they have been denied, the years of life they will never experience, the goals they will never reach, and the promise of a future they will never see,” he said.
Rabbi Don Weber of Temple Rodeph Torah said the deaths of the youths and the subsequent murder of a Palestinian teen made it clear that “Israel lives in a tough neighborhood.”
“A 17-year-old Palestinian teen was kidnapped and killed this week in what appears to be retaliation for the deaths of Eyal, Naftali and Gilad,” Weber said in reference to the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, which set off violent clashes in Jerusalem.
“[Israeli] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu has called for a thorough investigation and for the culprits to be brought to justice and punished,” Weber said.
According to Weber, Israel’s first priority is to protect itself, and the accompanying criticism of some of the state’s policies is warranted, but so too is praise for its relatively liberal, civil society.
“The Middle East is in flames, and Israel’s job is to keep its own house from catching fire,” Weber said. “People will criticize Israel for its treatment of Palestinians, and some of that criticism is valid. But, we can praise Israel for the freedom that it gives to Muslims, Christians and other religious groups — and that praise would be valid, too.”
Before the service was concluded with the singing of the Israeli national anthem, Krivitzky read “They Were Boys: A Yizkor Prayer” by Alden Solovy.
“Rock of Jacob, in this hour of grief, remember Naftali, Gilad, and Eyal. They were boys. May their memories provide solace and courage to our nation and our people.”