The funeral of Shalhevet Pass - the 10-month-old murdered last Monday by a Palestinian sniper - left this morning from the Machpelah Cave towards the ancient Jewish cemetery in Hevron. The Jewish Community asked participants in the funeral - some 1,500 in number - to show \"restraint,\" saying that retaliation to the murder of Shalhevet and the other Palestinian attacks on Hevron Jews must come only from the IDF and the Israeli government \"in the form of the re-capture of the hills overlooking the Jewish community and the construction of thousands of Jewish homes in Hevron.\"
The funeral procession passed peacefully, except for one incident of rock-throwing by Arabs towards the procession; Israeli soldiers dispersed the attackers by shooting rubber bullets. More seriously, after the funeral, Palestinian snipers standing atop the disputed Abu Sneineh hills shot towards Israeli soldiers and residents in Gross Square. No one was hurt, and IDF soldiers returned fire. Pictures of the funeral and burial can be seen on the Hevron Jewish Community\'s website at.
Kiryat Arba Rabbi Dov Lior eulogized the murdered baby:
\"From this holy place, we call to the Government of Israel and he who stands at its helm: The girl Shalhevet [lit., flame], who ignited the fire, who lit the torch of strength and heroism, felt free to toddle around here without fear. The government, too, must also gird itself with strength and wipe out the terrorism once and for all.... I would like to end by quoting the Lord of the Prophets [Moses] who said, hours before his death [Deut. 32,43], \'Rejoice O nations with His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will atone for His land and His people.\' It is incumbent upon the government of Israel to avenge Shalhevet\'s death, as well as the deaths of all of our brothers who were slaughtered by these contemptible and evil people - the Nation of Israel *has* the strength to do it! I hope that the verse will come true, \"Avenge before our very eyes the blood of your fallen servants...\"
Rabbi Moshe Levinger, Kiryat Arba Mayor Tzvi Katzover, Yosef Mendelevich and others also eulogized the baby Shalhevet Pass.
The funeral procession passed peacefully, except for one incident of rock-throwing by Arabs towards the procession; Israeli soldiers dispersed the attackers by shooting rubber bullets. More seriously, after the funeral, Palestinian snipers standing atop the disputed Abu Sneineh hills shot towards Israeli soldiers and residents in Gross Square. No one was hurt, and IDF soldiers returned fire. Pictures of the funeral and burial can be seen on the Hevron Jewish Community\'s website at
Kiryat Arba Rabbi Dov Lior eulogized the murdered baby:
\"From this holy place, we call to the Government of Israel and he who stands at its helm: The girl Shalhevet [lit., flame], who ignited the fire, who lit the torch of strength and heroism, felt free to toddle around here without fear. The government, too, must also gird itself with strength and wipe out the terrorism once and for all.... I would like to end by quoting the Lord of the Prophets [Moses] who said, hours before his death [Deut. 32,43], \'Rejoice O nations with His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will atone for His land and His people.\' It is incumbent upon the government of Israel to avenge Shalhevet\'s death, as well as the deaths of all of our brothers who were slaughtered by these contemptible and evil people - the Nation of Israel *has* the strength to do it! I hope that the verse will come true, \"Avenge before our very eyes the blood of your fallen servants...\"
Rabbi Moshe Levinger, Kiryat Arba Mayor Tzvi Katzover, Yosef Mendelevich and others also eulogized the baby Shalhevet Pass.