Park Labrea News Beverly Press - Community Mourns Jewish Teens

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By Edwin Folven

More than 1,000 members of the local Jewish community came together on Tuesday evening for a memorial service at Temple Beth Jacob in Beverly Hills in commemoration of the three Israeli teenagers whose bodies were found on Monday in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, more than two weeks after they were kidnapped in the area on June 12.

Naftali Frenkel, 16, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19, were remembered with candles and prayers. Rabbi Adir Posy, of Temple Beth Jacob, eulogized the teens, and was joined by Lihi Shaar, the aunt of Gilad Shaar, who offered a heartfelt remembrance of a young man who she said had a big smile and a love for others.

"I will never again see the smile on Gilad's face. Parents are not supposed to bury their sons," said Shaar, who lives in Los Angeles and is a member of Congregation Beth Jacob. "The victims were only three helpless, innocent boys who did nothing to anyone, except they were Jewish. The terrorists only know how to act with ugly cruelty, and that is exactly what they did to him."

Funerals were held for the teens on Tuesday in Israel, and the Israeli government vowed to track down the people responsible for the murders. The Israeli officials claim the teens were kidnapped and murdered by members of the terrorist group Hamas, but the organization has not claimed responsibility. Israeli Consul General in Los Angeles, David Siegel, said the incident has caused significant pain for Jewish people around the world, and as the community remembers the three teens, the focus also remains on seeking justice.

"Let me assure you, Israel will do whatever it takes to bring these murderers to justice," Siegel said. "We will leave no stone unturned."

Jay Sanderson, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, and Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), also spoke at the ceremony and offered reassurances that the community stands in solidarity with the families of the teens.

"When is grief not enough, when is prayer not enough?" Sanderson said. "I think tonight and in the days going forward, grief is not enough. I ask all of us not just to remember these three boys. I ask that we use their memories to fuel us, to inspire us to believe we are here for a greater purpose. That these three boys lived so we can live together as a stronger Jewish community and a stronger community of Israel."

Bloom added that he felt "deep heartache" upon hearing that the bodies of the teens had been found.

"Like you, my wife and I were shocked, angry and horrified," Bloom said. "We must hope and pray that the perpetrators are quickly brought to justice."

The boys are believed to have been kidnapped as they were hitchhiking home after attending school. Media reports have stated that Gilad Shaar attempted to phone police after being abducted. Lihi Shaar said it was a testament to her nephew's character.

"He was a child of great courage and foresight," Shaar said. "He was the one who called police immediately to alert them that they had been kidnapped."

Many other members of the local community offered condolences after the teens' bodies were found, including Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who issued a statement.

"As a parent, the murder of three Israeli teenagers, one of whom is a dual U.S. citizen -- Gilad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach -- is especially horrific and shocking," Schiff said. "These killers must be found and brought to justice for this brutal crime, and the U.S. should offer whatever assistance it can in the hunt for those responsible. The murderers would like nothing better than to destroy the chance for peace in the region [and] they must not succeed. The United States joins with all of Israel in mourning the loss of these three young people and sends our prayers to their families."

Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.) also issued a statement following the discovery of the bodies.

"My heart grieves for the families," Bass said. "[The] news that the bodies of these young boys were found north of the city of Hebron is truly devastating, and I join with my constituents and people around the world in denouncing this tragedy. Whoever is responsible is cruel and cowardly. Last week, I spent time with Gilad's aunt and spoke on the phone with the fathers of the boys in Israel. Words cannot describe the pain and suffering that I know the families are experiencing. We mourn together because of our common humanity, and it is this humanity that calls on this violence against children and innocents to end."

Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) expressed outrage at the tragedy, and also called for swift justice.

"The kidnapping and murder of innocent, unarmed teenagers is a cowardly and barbaric act that has no place in a civilized world," Waxman said. "We all grieve for Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel and embrace their families in our hearts. These boys had deep ties to the U.S., including Los Angeles, and their murder has hit our community hard. We must stand firmly with Israel as it seeks to bring those responsible to justice."

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer commemorated the teens with a posting on Twitter.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of Naftali, Gilad and Eyal," Feuer said. "As a parent, this unspeakable tragedy is beyond comprehension."

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is also encouraging people to post messages in memory of the teens that will be shared with their families.

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