Worshipers return to scene of deadly terror attack for morning prayers
Over 30 arrive for morning prayers at Kehilat Bnei Torah synagogue in Har Nof day after terror attack leaves four of its worshipers and a Druze police officer dead; 'I burst into tears when I entered - we are a god fearing people,' believer tells Ynet.
Exactly a day after terrorists entered the "Kehilat Bnei Torah" synagogue and opened fire, worshipers returned to the scene to pick up where they left off, undeterred and under heavy security, over 30 worshipers arrived for the morning service Wednesday.
Tuesday's deadly terror attack at the Jerusalem synagogue in Har Nof left five people dead, including four US and British men who were praying at the synagogue at the time of the attack and a Druze police officer who later succumbed to his wounds, after two terrorists armed with guns and cleavers entered the house of worship in the early morning hours and began their deadly rampage.
Many of those who were wounded but survived yesterday's attack were present Wednesday morning.
"I was in the synagogue and then I heard gunshots. I had no idea what was happening. I saw the terrorists enter and then one of them began chasing me with what seemed like an axe - I didn't even notice I was wounded," Isaac Hayseg told Ynet.
Yossi Brazzeni, who was also present during the attack, wept upon his return: "I was second to arrive this morning and I just burst into tears when I entered, but we are a god fearing people. It's as if everything is normal here, they fixed everything right up like it used to be, they did too good of a job.
"I went to pray at the exact same spot I stood in yesterday and said a prayer thanking God for the miracle that took place, (miracle) because I see exactly where I was standing and where the terrorists was. Thank God."
Yossef Meulam, whose father was also wounded in the terror attack, came to the house of worship to pray for his father's wellbeing: "We passed her on the way to the hospital. Every morning we pray diligently, but this time we are praying from the bottom of our souls. My father's condition is improving."
They also came in search of closure: "We can’t find his teflin or his talit, we really want to find them."
Because of the attack's early hour, many of the first responders were members of the community, one of those was paramedic Akiva Pollak, who also attends the synagogue.
"Today I enter my synagogue and I looked around to see if anyone was around, afraid it will happen again. When I see this synagogue full with people, I know that they are believers and that they will not allow this place to be shut down, but rather grow and attract more people. What we need to do is come back to here and pray," Pollak said.
According to the paramedic, Tuesday events were a sign from God, but he says he has faith in the police, "they protected the people of Israel and opened fire on the terrorists," he explained.
Prayers resumed at the Jerusalem synagogue in the early evening hours of Tuesday as the victims funeral processions began. Blood stains still dotted the house of worship and shattered glass was everywhere as the four victims – Rabbi Moshe Twersky, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, Rabbi Kalman Levine, and Aryeh Kupinsky - were laid to rest at Har HeMenuchot Cemetery in Jerusalem.
Shortly after the funerals, dozens of worshipers entered the "Kehilat Bnei Torah" synagogue in Har Nof to pray. The blood strains were all cleaned out, but the signs of the massacre that took place in the early morning hours were still evident, mostly the shattered windows from the gunfire.
Worshipers read the Shema prayer - "Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One." Later, they read chapters from Psalms.
The manager of synagogue, Motti Uderberg, said: "We don't run the world. We keep having full faith and keep praying the Creator. The murderers won't deter us."
One of the worshipers, a resident of the neighborhood, said: "I wasn't here this morning, but this is my community and I know many of the people who were hurt. It was important to me to be here and show we will continue doing what we do."
Worshipers not of the community also came to pray at the synagogue. One of them, Jerusalem resident Menachem, said: "It was important to me to come here to support the families of those murdered, and the members of the community."
