L to R: Frenkel, Yishai, Akunia at event
L to R: Frenkel, Yishai, Akunia at eventWomen in Green

MKs and local dignitaries joined hundreds of people who flocked to the outpost of Givat Oz V'Gaon on Friday, in a ceremony held both in memory of Israeli teens Naftali Frenkel (16), Gilad Sha'ar (16), and Eyal Yifrah (19) and to support construction in the Gush Etzion region. 

Women in Green leaders, Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar conducted the event, which hosted Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office MK Ofir Akunis (Likud)MK Eli Yishai (Shas), Head of Gush Etzion Council Davidi PerlCommander of the Gush Etzion Brigade Col. Amit Yamin, Head of the Makor Chaim Yeshiva Rabbi Zinger, and heroine and bereaved mother Racheli Frenkel.

Sukkot booths were strewn throughout the area of the hill, serving as centers for creative workshops and other activities, and they were crowded by the hundreds of visitors, adults as well as youths, who, from the early hours of the morning, flowed into the site by private vehicles as well as by organized transportation.

Akunis spoke first at the event, expressing gratitude for the invitation to participate in the event taking place at the site in memory of the three youths “who were abducted for only one reason, which is that they were Jews." 

Akunis told of his emotions in the first days after the abduction and of the strength that he derived from the families of the abducted youths, whose spirit was a model of unity and strength for the entire Jewish people, in his words.

“Within the first two days after the abduction I came to the Frenkel family’s home," he recounted. "I left there very much strengthened."

"Afterward, I continued and visited the other families and they continued to strengthen us”, he said, turning to Racheli Frenkel. “The message that was transmitted to the entire people was a message of faith and power, a message of love for the people and love for the land and with this message the government could begin Operation Brothers’ Keeper and afterward Operation Protective Edge, two military operations that could not have been more justified." 

Turning to the Brigade Commander of the local sector, Col. Yamin, who was also present, Akunis wished to “thank him for every one of the soldiers of the IDF who do superior work twenty four hours a day in the entire sector. We are not deterred by articles against the soldiers of the IDF and are not deterred by statements from the international community against the IDF. The IDF is the best and most moral army in the world." 

A short time after the information was publicized that the youths’ bodies had been found, calls were heard in the country calling for establishing a community in their memory," MK Akunis recalled.

He added that from this hill, Giv’at Oz veGa’on, the call arose to establish communities in the Land of Israel at all times and in all eras.

"On the 14th of May ’48, there was a phrase in the Declaration of Independence that was so very correct ‘by virtue of our natural historical right’," he said. "I am always happy to see Gush Etzion being built up and developed. By virtue of this right we build not only in Gush Etzion but all throughout the Land and we have no intention to leave here or any other place." 

"When we think about this place, I am sure that our father Abraham walked on this mountain ridge on his way to Hebron and King David also walked on this path," he continued. "To think that they were here, says it all and seals the argument. There is no argument about who came here first. We are in the heart of the Land of Judea. There is no people in the world that surrenders its homeland and we will not surrender one clod of our homeland’s soil." 

MK Eli Yishai remarked in his words on the uniqueness of the Days of Awe that the Jewish People experienced in the days of Elul and Tishrei, including the joyous days of the Sukkot holiday that express unity among the entire nation.

Turning to MK Akunis, Yishai said:, “I call on the government to continue to build all throughout the Land."

"In Europe and in the United States, perhaps it is possible to freeze building," he said. "Here it is impossible…we dedicate this place to the elevation of the souls, holy to the Almighty, who were killed in His holy name. The power of the unity that they brought to the People of Israel was as if the Creator of the Universe bestowed a special spirit on the People. The question now is how to continue and maintain this unity." 

Yishai showered with praises the head of the Gush Etzion Council Davidi Perl, who “builds and will continue to build. We will build many more communities and study houses to elevate the souls of the holy ones," in his words.

"Our role is to perpetuate the unity. Each and every one of us must see this task as a personal task," he continued. "The four species express the unity among the various types of the People. One has not fulfilled his obligation if he has not tied the four together. It is impossible to make a blessing if something is missing."

"This is the power of the People of Israel," he declared. "We must rally the people together. No nation will be able to overcome the People of Israel, especially if it is unified." 

“I do not remember such days of unity”, he said, relating to the days that passed after the abduction of the youths. And Yishai sealed his words with “We will draw from Simchat Beit HaShoeva and the martyrdom of those holy to the Almighty, to continue the unity among the People of Israel and we will work toward the unification of the holy People and may we merit the coming of our holy Messiah so that we may wave the four species in the Holy Temple."