The procession at Shalavim of Naftali Frankel. Photo: Hillel Maeir / Tazpit News Agency.

The families of the three murdered Israeli teens conducted separate services and eulogies before burying their children side-by-side in a joint funeral in the Modi’in cemetery later today. Thousands gathered together in the home communities of Gilad Shaar (16), Naftali Frankel (16) and Eyal Yifrach (19), whose bodies were discovered on Monday evening not far from the site where they were abducted in Gush Etzion by Hamas terrorists nearly three weeks ago.

Israeli government ministers spoke at each of the services. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, at the service of Eyal Yifrach in Elad said, “The song of their lives was stopped. They were kidnapped and murdered just because they are Jews. Even in these hours, our security forces are looking for their murderers and we will not rest until we find them. Before us stands a cruel enemy, a terror organization that seeks to kill us. But we will not be afraid and they will pay a heavy price.”

“Dear Yifrach family; Iris and Uri, these hours of personal grief are shared by all of us. May their memories, Gilad, Naftali and Eyal, be blessed,” said the Defense Minister.

“You were such an example to your family. Your brothers are missing you, Eyal,” said his weeping father, Uri Yifrach. Eyal Yifrach’s grandfather said at his wake: “I am convinced that Eyal struggled with the kidnappers with all his strength, to show them that we are not afraid, because he was a hero in his soul, a hero in his love to the Land of Israel, a hero of his love for the people of Israel, and certainly did not go like sheep to the slaughter. I’m sure he gave them what he could to prove that we are in our country, our homeland, and we are confident in the righteousness of our way that the Land of Israel is ours.” Eyal’s father asked his son to whisper in God’s ear and ask him to give them strength to cope. “It is hard without you, we need strength”, he said, “We are loving people, we have the love and it will win. We will not break. We cry, but these are tears of strength. We will not give up. We are here and you can do nothing about it. We are a strong nation.”

Finance Minister Yair Lapid spoke at 16-year-old Gilad Shaar’s service in Talmon and Education Minister Shai Piron spoke at Naftali Frankel’s service in Nof Ayalon. Both ministers spoke of the unity of the nation of Israel in the face of the tragedy. “We will find the killers and punish them. The real revenge will be in the ability to bridge the gaps between us,” said Lapid. “We need each other on this day. We need one another, not anger, we need no further split, we need love, a common language,” said Lapid. “We are mourning a life which will not be actualized.”

“I remembered all the times we argued, how you would wake me up in the mornings to go to school,” said Shirel Shaar, Gilad’s sister with her mother holding her. “I told the nation of Israel how much I will miss wrapping you in my tallit during the blessing of the Cohanim, now that tallit is wrapping your body today,” said Gilad’s father, Ophir Shaar, his voice breaking. “I believe your story will be told for generations. I was able to speak to you an hour before you set home and heard your loving voice. Your sisters loved and were proud of their only brother,” said Gilad’s father.

The community of Nof Ayalon gathered together to remember 16-year-old Naftali Frankel. “Three young boys killed in cold blood, in a shared fate, which in turn can only make us better people. Your death will lead this nation together onwards. Rest in peace my dear son,” said Naftali’s father, Avi, in tears.  “Those people were out there to hunt, and you were those chosen,” said Racheli, Naftali’s mother. “We are thankful for the army, police, security forces that you promised to bring the boys back and they did. We will learn to sing without you. We will always hear your voice within us, Naftali.”