I’m writing this with tears streaming down my face. What everyone in Israel has been hoping never to hear, has happened. The three teenage boys who were kidnapped 18 days ago on their way home from school were found dead, buried together.
18 days of heartbreak, of feeling helpless, of hope and of unity. 18 days that have ended with the tragedy that we have all feared. During the past 18 days we saw so many glimpses of goodness and unity and support. 18 agonizing days and it’s so ironic because in Judaism, 18 is synonymous with life. In this case, it’s three lives that were brutally ended.
Tears are pouring freely. There is almost nothing on my Facebook wall this moment except an outpouring of grief and sadness. The whole country is in a state of mourning. From little children who have been following the news and saying psalms daily, to teens, to the elderly. We all have broken hearts and can’t even begin to fathom how Eyal, Gil-Ad and Naftali’s parents’ and families are breathing, let alone coping.
I wonder why there is evil in the world. I wonder how we can live in a world so full of evil and hate. I wonder why it is that so often we don’t see or appreciate all the goodness until something evil or awful happens. Do we need the evil in our world in order to appreciate the goodness? I hope not.
My heart is breaking and I am begging each and every one of you to make this world a better place. Be kind, do good and don’t turn a blind eye to evil.
May the memories of Eyal Yifrach, Gil-Ad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel be of blessed memory. May they rest in peace and guide us in our quest to make this world a better place.
This is an original post to World Moms Blog by our contributor, Susie Newday in Israel. You can find her on her blog New Day New Lesson.
Photo courtesy of #BringBackOurBoys
Susie Newday (Israel)
Susie Newday is a happily-married American-born Israeli mother of five. She is an oncology nurse, blogger and avid amateur photographer. Most importantly, Susie is a happily married mother of five amazing kids from age 8-24 and soon to be a mother in law. (Which also makes her a chef, maid, tutor, chauffeur, launderer...) Susie's blog, New Day, New Lesson, is her attempt to help others and herself view the lessons life hands all of us in a positive light. She will also be the first to admit that blogging is great free therapy as well. Susie's hope for the world? Increasing kindness, tolerance and love. You can also follow her Facebook page New Day, New Lesson where she posts her unique photos with quotes as well as gift ideas.
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Some of the strongest feelings of love and unity that I’ve ever seen were the day after 9/11. Sadly, evil does bring out the best in people. Ironic and sad.
My feed too is filled with sorrow, anger and astounded reactions. All I have in my mind are adjectives such as horrific, disgusting, tragic and criminal. While it is great to try and fill the world with good deeds, evil needs to be fought in the strongest way possible.
Hashem Yinakem Damam. 🙁
Thank you for sharing your feelings. I feel numb. Absolutely nothing was gained by this horrific killing of three young boys. They just wanted to go home after school.
My heart breaks for the three families and I can only hope that all the good that was done in the last 18 days continues to give them strength to simply go on.
Susie, I am beyond words and full of sadness. We had so much hope and all over the world we had been praying for their release daily. I wish the prayer could have saved them.
Susie, your devastation pours from the screen, just like your tears must be running from our face.
I just can’t understand how someone can feel so much hate and evil.
And I can’t even begin to understand how the parents and family of these boys will ever be able to cope….
Beautiful words in a situation where there are no words…
BDE are easy words to say. What does it even mean?
What does it mean to to be so cynical that you don’t even want to yell at God?
You won. You happy?
There are no words to describe the sadness. I hope that those boys will rest in peace, and that through them people will be inspired to love their fellow man. Let’s all do what we can to make sure they didn’t die in vain.
The only option left for us as a people is to unite and to rely on eachother, hold eachother up in the face of this sadness and brutality. The love and kindness that I have witnessed in the past few weeks are stronger than the evil that stole away these young boys. we must be kinder. better. more loving. no other answer.
I agree with everything that has already been said. As a mother, I know there are no words to mitigate this horror. 🙁
All I can do is add my condolences (as insignificant as that may be) and prayers for Peace with a capital P! Love and best wishes to all. <3 xoxo
I can feel your pain and sadness, I had these same feeling in addition to anger when I used to hear about kidnapped and raped children in Egypt last year and it was so frequent (I wrote a post about it on WMB). I really sympathize with their parents and everyone who feel the pain for the death of those powerless children. What is their crime to be killed that way without mercy, they are just children. Unfortunately the fire of evil doesn’t burn the bad people only but the bad and the good. I pray for them and their families and pray that none of us experience such a pain.
Susie, your efforts to fill us in on the kidnapping were commendable. I am so sorry that it did not end as we all hoped. I’m saddened by the news. We spoke about this a lot behind the scenes. It has been on my mind since you brought it to my attention. Thank you for being a voice for Gilad, Naftali & Eyal. I am thinking of them.