The Way We Were

On 12 June, 2014, three Israeli teenagers – Naftali Frenkel (16), Gilad Shaer (16), and Eyal Yifrah (19) – were kidnapped at the bus/hitchhiking stop as they were hitchhiking to their homes. 

The Israel Defense Forces initiated Operation Brother’s Keeper. In the days following the kidnapping, the mothers of the three teens intensified their pleas to Am Yisrael to pray for their safe return. They initiated the #BringBackOurBoys campaign. On 30 June, IDF search teams  found the bound bodies of the missing teenagers in a field north-west of  Hebron.  

By Israel Defense Forces from Israel – Brother’s Keeper Operation in Judea & Samaria 

All three were buried on 1-July-2014 (3-Tamuz) in a national funeral.  

May the unity and brotherly love we showed each other during that tragic time remind us that we are always our brother’s keeper. May every Jew be brought back to his loving Father.

Yaakov Shwekey recently released a song in loving memory of our holy boys Eyal Yifrah, Naftali Frenkel, and Gilad Shaer. 

Lyrics  

Moments frozen in my mind in a different place  

Suspended in a world of prayer  

We showed our best face  

Summer breeze carried the cries  

Oh…A nation’s plea  

Three pieces of our heart מאין יבוא עזרי  

We were one, so one  

Clinging to a shared hope  

Hands around each other’s shoulders  

We were creating hope  

It was the way we were  

The way we were meant to be  

Times of togetherness our souls on fire שמע בקולי  

It was the way we were  

The way that we’re gonna be  

When we stop pretending  

The road is ending  

Perfect unity  

Voices rising from all sides  

Make sure we don’t forget  

Chains of steel connecting us  

With those we’ve never met  

Over treetops, echoes a cry  

A brother’s call from afar,  

A million flames light up as once  

Reminding us who we are  

We were one, so one  

Clinging to a shared hope  

Hands around each other’s shoulders  

We were creating hope