et achai anochi mevakesh, hagida na li efo hem… “I am searching for my brothers…

tell me please where are they?”

Ten years ago when I was in Israel I was travelling to Chevron to pray at the Mearat Hamachpela at two in the morning. My driver took me past the bus stop at Gush Etziyon and there was a young student standing there with his thumb out looking for a lift into Chevron

“Is he crazy” I asked? Only the day before a young boy was killed right here at this bus stop by terrorists. “No he is not crazy” was the reply. Apparently it as well known that these terrorists do not hit the same place twice in a row.

And now ten years later, 3 young boys who left from this same bus stop have been kidnapped and are in the hands of terrorists.

‘Vayizaku’ – and the Jewish people cried out to G-d ‘Vayitzaku’ – and they screamed

Over the years how much crying, how many screams, how often has the Jewish Nation poured out its heart in prayer and supplication to the Almighty. How many cups would it take to fill the tears of sorrow and mourning?

Our sages concern themselves with these two words Vaiyzaku and Vayitzaku and they ponder the difference in their meaning. Whether we translate these words as crying or screaming, whether we interpret them as this kind of prayer or that kind of prayer, the bottom line is that G-d in all His mercy and justice did not respond to them.

He did not respond to cries, or tears, or even the screams – our Holy Torah tells us that Viyishma es Naakosom – when did he hear them? Viyishma – he listened he heard them when they were depleted, when they no longer had words or tears or screams but simply Naakosom – all they could get out from their tired and wary beings was a moan, a groan of supplication before Him.

What are we going to say here tonight?

These three young boys, teenage students, Eyal Yifrach, Gilaad Shaar, and Naftali Frenkel were kidnapped, not because they are Israeli’s, not because of land issues, occupied or otherwise, or housing, or East or West Jerusalem, or one or two or 10 State solutions – they were kidnapped because they are Jewish – pure and simple. They were kidnapped by terrorists who hate Jews and do not wish for peace but to see an end to the very existence of the Jewish nation.

And no amount of negotiation for land, or prisoners or anything else will fix this problem.

Not long ago we celebrated the anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel, but in all the hype and celebration, our Homeland and people remain subjected to the whims and persecution of terrorist who shoot rockets into our backyards, who mutilate our people, and who kidnap young students.

Tonight we are here to acknowledge that in all the sorrow – over all the years and millennia it was only Hakadosh Boruch Hu – G-d Almighty who saved us.

It is what it is. Negotiating for land and people with terrorists who still to this very day do not acknowledge Israel’s right to exist; will not bring about peace. Certainly not the peace we pray for and wish for when we sing ‘oseh shalom bimromav’.

So what will bring peace? What will bring salvation to our people to our children, to Eyal, to Gilaad, and to Naftali … ?

The answer is Viyishma Elokim ess naakosom – after our prayers tonight let us go home and make a difference. Let us resolve to do one mitzvah that we already do, just a little better, or to add to the Torah learning that we already do by an extra 1 minute, or perhaps let us resolve to go over to people who we don’t like so much, who we don’t get on with and try to improve our relationship with them and to bring peace into our own homes and communities.

Let us take these young boys home with us tonight and remember them not only in our prayers but more importantly through our actions.

There is no one in this room who has nothing they can add in their service of G-d and to Man – let us resolve for the sake of our children – to bring light into a dark world – so that we will imminently hear of the safe return of Yaakov Naftali ben Rochel, Devorah, Gilad Michoel ben Bat Galim, Eyal ben Iris Teshurah to their parents, to their home and to their people.

May the Almighty protect them, keep them from harm and bring them home safe and sound.

Amen.