TERROR ESCALATES; CLEVELAND MOURNS

Last Thursday, after a suicide bomber murdered 15 Israelis at a downtown Jerusalem pizza restaurant, we learned that three young people from the Beit She'an area were also killed in separate incidents. Beit She'an is Cleveland's Partnership 2000 community, and many of our community members have formed close relationships with Beit She'anis. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.

Dvir Reshef

Dvir Reshef, a soldier from Beit She'an, was killed Thursday, August 9, by Palestinian sniper fire near the West Bank city of Tulkarm. Dvir was a graduate of the Noar L'Noar youth program, an apolitical youth movement that promotes regional ties among high school students from Beit She'an and the surrounding kibbutzim in the Beit She'an Valley. A Partnership 2000 program, Noar L'Noar connects youth from Cleveland and Beit She'an.

His parents, Rachel and Yoni, are both active members in the community.

Both have participated in the Cleveland-sponsored Community Builders program that develops local lay leadership in Beit She'an, and both visited the Cleveland Jewish community as part of the program.

Dvir's funeral was held last Friday.

Aliza Malka

Aliza Malka, a 16-year old girl from Kibbutz Merav in the Beit She'an valley, was killed and three other teenagers were wounded Thursday, August 9 in a drive-by shooting near their home. Kibbutz Merav is home to Nitzan Aviran, manager of the Economic Development Unit (MATI), which is supported by Partnership 2000 and the Beit She'an Valley Community Foundation. Two of the wounded teenagers - 10th graders named Natalie and Lilach - are part of the Noar L'Noar youth program. Natalie is a candidate to become chair of the program.

Nadav Elad

Nadav Elad, a young soldier and Yeshiva student, was killed Tuesday, August 7 when a Palestinian car crashed into his army jeep. Nadav was a student at Yeshiva Ma'ale Gilboa, which is located at Kibbutz Ma'ale Gilboa, one of the kibbutzim in the Beit She'an valley. The Federation's January Solidarity mission had lunch with students at Kibbutz Ma'ale Gilboa.

At this time of tragedy and sadness we can only pray and show our support for our brothers and sisters in Beit She'an.

To express your condolences:

Please e-mail israelresponse@jcfcleve.org or send a card to "Beit She'an", c/o Jewish Community Federation (attn: CRC), 1750 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. All messages will be forwarded to Sagi Melamed, our Jewish Agency representative in Beit She'an.

Messages of Condolence

Rubin Guttman :
L'chavereinu hayikarim b'chol revachei ha'arez, Words can't express our grief and frustration with the "matsav" that afflicts all of us together. Anu itchem ad hanitzachon shel shalom.

Irene Marocco :
To the families of the precious young souls taken during this obscene violence, we offer our comfort and support. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Hashem Yenachem Etchem.

Kaye Chavinson (President, JFSA Cleveland) :
On behalf of all of us at Jewish Family Service Association, Cleveland Jewish community's social service organization, we wish to express our heartfelt condolences to your community for your terrible, terrible losses. We are heartsick for what you are all enduring at this time of crisis and want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you daily. Our hope is that this current uprising of killing and conflict will end and a semblance of peace and normalcy can return until such time as a long term peace agreement can be realized. Please know that your Jewish brethren all over the world are with you in the spirit of support and prayer.

Lynn_Krumholz :
My family and I continue to pray for you, our brothers and sisters in Beit She'an, and all of Israel.

Florence and Richard Dobrin :
To Beit She'an and all those besieged by the heartless Palestinians, we want you to know that we are supporting you in every way that we possibly can. We are very concerned for your safety. We come to Israel without fear to show your "partners in peace" that their murdering of innocent children will never resolve the conflict. As usual, we will be going to Israel for our 27th Pesach at Kibbutz Givat Oz where our grandchildren live and we will also visit many friends and relatives who reside in Israel. We hope the Palestinians will soon realize that their terrorism will get them no where and that pease will finally settle down in Israel. Stand firm.

Bill Jones and Linda Schoenberg :
We share the families and friends grief at the unconscionable tragedy that has befallen them and all of Israel. Our thoughts of sympathy are the families and friends. And we continue to pray for peace for Israel as well as the safety of all Israelis in the matzav.

Elul 5761 - September 2001