Among all the demonstrations that took place in the last few days, one of the most important and beautiful ones was hidden between the headlines – that of Gush Etzion.
Hundreds of Gush Etzion residents gathered last week (Sunday) at the Gush Etzion intersection, in gratitude of the lack of casualties from the car bomb explosions at the Gush intersection and at Carmei Tzur last Saturday.
Like many demonstrations that took place at the same time across the country after the return of the bodies of hostages Carmel Gat, Hirsch Goldberg Polin, Almog Sarosi, Uri Danino, Alex Lobanov and Eden Yerushalmi, the residents also demonstrated and prayed for the return of the hostages.
Among the speakers at the rally were the head of the Gush Etzion council Yaron Rosenthal and the rabbi of the Gush Etzion council, Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon.
But actually, one of the most interesting speakers was the Deputy Chief of security of Carmei Tzur, who spoke about the Saturday events, how he and security patrol Elkana Navon fought and prevented with their bodies the terrorist who penetrated the settlement, an intrusion that could have ended in a much more shocking way. The Deputy Chief wished to remain anonymous, and asked to pray for Navon, as he was injured in the incident and is currently being treated at the hospital, where his condition is stable and he is feeling well.
The speakers at the rally summarized and talked about the events of Saturday, gave thanks for the miracles, cried out for the return of the hostages, condemned the phenomena of violence by settlers, and promoted a discourse of unity and love.
After the various speeches, the residents gathered in circles, sang, said chapters of the Psalms, sang the national anthem and proudly waved Israeli flags.
The most beautiful thing in this discourse of unity is the very fact that at the same time and in the exact same location, two different rallies were planned – one, a rally in recognition of the miracles that took place on Shabbat when prayer and music were planned, and the other, a rally crying for the return of the hostages, hoping to show love and support for their families. Instead of holding two separate rallies, with different agendas and even politics, the organizers united and connected the events together, in love and acceptance.
Indeed, the rally consisted of a huge diversity of people – from children, and youth to adults and the elderly, from the right wing to the left wing, from the religious to the secular, when the factor that unites all is the desire to pray, a prayer that combines a lot of thanksgiving and with it- a plea.
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