Media Releases – March 2001
March 2001
March 2, 2001 Reminder — Purim Party!
March 13, 2001 Update on Har-Shefi Campaign
March 13, 2001 A Modern Day Esther
March 16, 2001 Demonstrate for Margalit Har-Shefi
March 19, 2001 She Is Innocent!
March 22, 2001 A Poor Beginning For Meir Sheetrit
March 22, 2001 The Last Casualty of the Gulf War
March 26, 2001 React to the Murder of Baby Shalhevet
March 27, 2001 Collective Punishment
March 30, 2001 Shalhevet to be Buried on Sunday
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Jerusalem, March 2, 2001
REMINDER — Purim Party!
The annual Women In Green Purim Masquerade dinner will,
please G-d, take place Thursday night, March 8, 2001,
at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel (opposite the Great Synagogue).
Maariv: 6:05 pm
Megillah reading: 6:30 pm
Followed immediately by Dinner
Guests: Oleg, the world famous cartoonist,
Mayor of Jerusalem, Ehud Olmert
Members of Knesset
Please dress in the Spirit of Purim – prizes for best costume
Separate room and entertainment for children; clowns, balloons,
face-painting, etc…
An evening of games and fun we all deserve…no speeches!
Couvert $100 per adult or shekel equivalent (help support Women In Green)
(special rates for teenagers and children under 12)
Payment by credit card can be made in 4 installments.
Please reserve ASAP
at tel. 02-624-9887
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, 13 March 2001
Update on Har-Shefi Campaign
The Women in Green, together with the Bet-El and Kedumim action
committees for Margalit Har-Shefi, have been working non-stop:
* tens of thousands of signatures, asking for a full pardon for
Margalit, have already been gathered from around the country.
Ten of thousands of stickers have been distributed.
* Our purpose is to hand over to the President all the signed
petitions at the upcoming vigil in front of President Katsav’s
residence, Jabotinsky Street, Jerusalem, on Monday March 19th
2001 at 10:00 am. Be there!
Margalit is supposed to start her jail-term two days later,
Wednesday March 21st. If G-d forbid no pardon is granted,
a large demonstration will take place that day, accompanying her to jail.
* Women in Green have put up several tables in different cities in
order to sign up people on the petition. We need your help!
Anybody able to be at the table for a few hours in Jerusalem,
Ashdod, Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Raanana and other cities, please e-mail
us your name and phone number and we will be in touch.
The more volunteers we get, the more signatures we will gather.
* URGENT: in order for the President to grant a pardon, the
Minister of Justice first has to recommend the pardon and only
then the President can relate to it. Now that we finally have a
Minister of Justice, it is of utmost importance to bombard his office
with phones and faxes, asking him to recommend that Margalit
should be pardoned.
Minister of Justice Meir Shitreet
Telephone: 02-646-65-27
Fax: 02-628-54-38
* The Bet-El action committee has put up a website in Hebrew for
Margalit. All facts, articles, court sessions etc… can be found on
this very well-done site:
www.harshefi.org.il
* Anybody who needs more stickers and/or petitions can go to our
Women in Green office in Jerusalem and pick them up. Time is of the
essence. Call Ruth or Michael at 02-624-9887
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, 13 March, 2001
A Modern Day Esther
The following was written in this year’s Women in Green journal
given out at the annual Women in Green Purim Masquerade:
Queen Esther’s strength was her immense emunah and
perseverance to fight, even against the strongest powers.
In the end, with Hashem’s help, she succeeded.
Esther, wife of Jonathan Pollard, has been gifted with these same
wonderful qualities. Esther has been fighting over the past few
years, day and night, for the release of Jonathan:
demonstrating, hunger striking, petitioning, faxing, writing, e-
mailing, lobbying…showing no signs of tiredness or despair.
The Women in green admire ESTHER for her steadfastness and
pray that Hashem may give her strength and reward her by bringing
Jonathan home to his People as soon as possible.
How can we help, tachles?
Next week Prime minister Ariel Sharon is going to the States and
is going to meet President Bush. According to the Arutz 7 news report
of Monday, March 12, PM Sharon told CNN that he would ask U.S.
President Bush to pardon Jonathan Pollard when the two leaders meet.
Women in Green call upon all to bombard the PM’s office with
letters and faxes encouraging the Prime Minister in his quest for
Jonathan’s release and showing him that the People are behind
him and yearn to see Jonathan come home.
The more faxes/phonecalls he’ll get, the more strength we will give
Ariel Sharon to demand Jonathan’s pardon.
So:
1) send a personal fax to Ariel Sharon – fax:02-566-4838
2) call Sharon’s office – 02-670-5555
3) forward this mail to at least another 5 friends
4) subscribe to the Pollard’s mailing list and receive all the updates
and news releases and send letters of encouragement to Esther
and Jonathan:
www.jonathanpollard.org
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, March 16, 2001
Demonstrate for Margalit Har-Shefi
Women in Green call upon all to join the 2 demonstrations for
Margalit Har-Shefi that are going to take place this coming week.
The demonstrations are organized by the family and the committee
for Margalit Har-Shefi.
Two days before she is supposed to go to jail:
on MONDAY, MARCH 19th 2001, at 10:00 am
there will be a vigil in front of the PRESIDENT’s house,
Jabotinsky Street, Jerusalem.
We will try to meet with the President to personally hand him the
thousands of signed petitions demanding Margalit’s pardon.
On the day she is supposed to go to jail,
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21st, 2001,
if no pardon has been granted by then,
there will be a MASS VIGIL OF SUPPORT FOR MARGALIT
under the title:
“WE BELIEVE MARGALIT”
Meeting place: the entrance to BET-EL at 10:00 am
driving together to the Neve Tirza prison.
At 1:00pm, gathering in front of Neve Tirza prison, near Ramle
With the participation of Rabbis, MK’s and other public figures.
For details about transportation: 02-6522111.
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Jerusalem, March 19, 2001
She Is Innocent!
By Rabbi Shlomo Aviner
(Published in Hebrew in Makor Rishon, 15 Adar – March 3, 2001)
“I hereby declare that according to my best knowledge and the dictates
of my conscience, Margalit is completely innocent of any crime. This
declaration is not a plea for mercy but a statement of innocence in
the face of a terrible legal mistake.” (By the Rabbi of Bet El to whom
Margalit turned for advice and to receive a halachic response when
Yigal Amir suggested that it was permissible to murder the Prime
Minister)
To our honored President and all Jews worldwide,
I approach the Israeli Judicial system with all due respect, in the
firm belief that its judges strive for truth, and that it provides
order and stability in the State of Israel.
I offer not a hint of support for the murder of our prime minister or
for the low-down murderer who deserves a punishment of death and more.
Not only the murderer, but also anyone who spoke or even thought of
such a deed must repent.
I offer not a hint of support for any violent actions or any acts of
hate or disrespect, even if they are ‘justified’. Never do the ends
justify the means.
I offer not a hint of support for “right” or “left” here, but rather
respect all opinions. The murder of a prime minister is not a
political issue, but a knife in the flesh of the whole nation.
Neither do I make any allegations against any Jew on this issue.
I do not even wish to beg for mercy for Margalit Har Shefi. For five
years she has lived with uncertainty, lost her places of employment,
and been the object of hostility and unceasing lies. I wish to call
out, “Stop!” It is not the few months of imprisonment which she
faces, but her honor and good name which have been destroyed.
I hereby declare that according to my best knowledge and the dictates
of my conscience, Margalit is completely innocent of any crime. This
declaration is not a plea for mercy but a statement of innocence in
the face of a terrible legal mistake. You may ask how I dare speak out
against the supreme judicial institution of Israel. I quote Rabbi
Kook’s statement regarding the Arlozorov Trial: “Our forefather
Abraham dared speak out about Sodom even to the Master of the World,
as is written in the Torah, ‘Shall the Judge of the whole world not
act justly!'”
You may ask how I know that Margalit is innocent.
During the six months before the murder, she asked me to help her
refute the so-called halachic claims of other students that the prime
minister could be categorized as a “rodef”. Dozens, perhaps even
hundreds of people turned to me for such help, and I thus became an
unwilling expert in distinguishing the motives and character traits of
those who turned to me.
Decide for yourselves.
Read the trial proceedings printed below and come to your own
conclusions about the evidence. Use your own judgement to decide if
she is innocent or guilty.
You may ask how the judges could err. We know that all humans err,
even judges. Margalit was completely cleared of the prosecution’s
claim that she aided and abetted the crime. Was this an error?
Furthermore, the Chief Justice in the District Court pronounced her
innocent. Doesn’t she believe that the conviction is a mistake?
I believe that the truth will ultimately triumph. It is the duty of
each and every one of us to correct this miscarriage of justice,
which is a black spot on the whole nation. Margalit’s most precious
possession is her good name, and that is also the good name of each
and every one of us.
Judge the Facts Yourself
From the evidence presented by the prosecution to prove that Margalit
had advance information about the Prime Minister’s murder:
1. In the winter and spring of 1995 Margalit and other students
participated in legal activities protesting the Oslo Accords and
supporting settlements in Yesha. 2. In the spring of 1955, Margalit
asked me to provide her with arguments against labeling the prime
minister a “rodef”. 3. In the spring of 1995, the murderer told
Margalit that he intended to illegally procure weapons to defend
settlements if they were abandoned by the IDF. (At that meeting,
Margalit warned him, “If I suspect that you intend to do anything
illegal, I will turn you over to the police.”) 4. In February 1995, on
a student bus returning from a demonstration, they had an argument
about calling the prime minister a “rodef”, and Margalit vehemently
objected. 5. In June 1995, the murderer told her that he had planned
to murder Rabin at a ceremony at Yad VaShem, but that Rabin did not
attend. (Margalit treated this as mere bragging, especially since the
fact that he would not attend was announced early in the morning.)
6. In August 1995, Amir told Margalit that he had intended to murder
Rabin at the Kfar Shmaryahu intersection, but he came too late. (She
did not take this claim seriously either, since Amir lived only a few
minutes walk from the intersection.) 7. The murderer carried a pistol
legally and openly. 8. When she heard the news that there had been an
attempt to assassinate the prime minister, Margalit immediately called
Amir at his home.
Translated by Bracha Slae
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Jerusalem, March 22, 2001
A Poor Beginning For Meir Sheetrit
Has anyone wondered why the usual Meretz and Labor attack on the
appointment of a Likud Justice Minister, has not taken place? Certainly
there is no impressive legal background which the present Minister of
Justice can claim. Aside from significantly receiving a bear hug from
Avraham Burg, the present Speaker of the Knesset, at his swearing in
ceremony, (showing that he was really one of the Labor boys at heart),
Shitreet’s qualifications for the job are indeed questionable.
He has shown his lack of stature in his role in the Margalit
Har-Shefi case. A pardon was sought by Margalit’s family, and Sheetrit,
whose role was to recommend to the President whether such pardon should be
granted, quickly rushed to the media to announce that no preference would
be given to the question of pardoning Margalit. As a consequence, Margalit
began her 9 month prison term today, despite one of the Justices of the
Supreme Court having written on the appeal to that Court that she should
not serve a day in prison.
It would take the kind of courage that Sheetrit has never shown that
he has. The stands he takes have proven over and over again to be
indistinguishable from many of the positions of Labor over the years. He
certainly would not dare to brave the hostility of Labor and Meretz were he
to treat this case for a pardon on its merits. Rather than that, he would
allow the young lady in question to undergo the degradation and humiliation
of prison conditions. His hiding behind the concept of not granting
preferences, while sounding noble, is in effect a cop out. He has avoided
arousing the disfavor of his colleagues like Burg in Labor, and Meretz, and
apparently that was his prime and only consideration in the matter.
The ironic aspect of this whole situation is that Sheetrit sees
himself as a leader, and a contender for the leadership of the Likud Party.
He has already in the past sought such leadership. The nation should deem
itself fortunate that he did not realize his desires in the matter. He has
hidden so well any Zionist leanings up to now, and for the most part the
differences between his views and the post-Zionist ideas of Labor have not
been substantial. Certainly he seems to be unaware, or does not care, about
the overwhelming public opinion in favor of pardoning Margolit that Women
In Green found throughout the country. The thousands of signed petitions
they obtained attest to that fact. Minister of Justice Sheetrit has chosen
to fly in the face of what the Jewish People wish with regard to Margalit.
He is out of touch with our People. He is out of touch with their desires.
He is out of touch. Unfortunately for Margalit and the Nation, he is
presently our Minister of Justice.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, March 22, 2001
The Last Casualty of the Gulf War
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR JEWS
Jewish “human rights” activists have turned the life of one former Jewish
refusnik into a continuing nightmare. In December 2000, the Jerusalem
District Court ordered Boaz Moshkovich to pay NS200,000 in the wake of an incident
that occurred during the tense days of the Gulf War in February 1991.
Moshkovich, 42, a gentle, soft-spoken computer programmer and father of
two daughters, has lived in Tekoa near Jerusalem since 1986. On the night of
February 18, 1991, he was driving home on the road linking Jerusalem to
Tekoa,8 km. southeast. The road skirts the edge of Beit Sahur, an Arab town just
east of Bethlehem which since the intifada of December 1987 had became a
frequent scene of Arab attacks on Jewish traffic. Rock-throwing, nails in the
road, and burning tires were common. Moshkovich had been attacked there more
than once, with a rock smashing his rear windshield and landing in the then-
empty baby’s car seat. Other times his family was in the car during the
attacks.
The road had been closed to Jewish traffic for weeks at the beginning of
the Gulf War and had just been reopened a few days before. As he was driving
home that evening, having been attacked on the road the night before,
Moshkovich found himself stopped by a roadblock of boulders and a suspicious
object, a box with a wire leading to the side of the road, at a spot where
the road ascends a hill to the Beit Sahur junction.
There was no moon or street lights. Suddenly, rocks hit his car from out
of the darkness. In those days, the sole means of defense available to an
Israeli civilian who found himself in such a situation was to shoot in the
air to try and scare the attackers away, and this is what he did.
As recorded in the evidence presented to the Jerusalem District Court,
one of the bullets hit a kitchen window of one of the houses up the hill, 80
meters away. It went into the living room through an open door, and hit the
Arab youth Salem Mouslach.
Moshkovich did not know he had hurt anyone. He was arrested, held for six
days, and after two years was indicted for homicide. He knew he was innocent
but, at the advice of his lawyer, agreed to a plea bargain that involved a
conviction for negligent homicide, and was sentenced in 1993 to five months
of community service (which he performed at Hadassah Hospital) and a year’s
probation.
In March 1994, B’tselem, “The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights
in the Occupied Territories,” published a report highlighting the case
involving Boaz Moshkovich. (The report opens with special thanks to lawyer
Avraham Gal, who was to serve as the lawyer for the Arab family’s civil suit
against Moshkovich.) The report reveals that lawyers Avraham Gal, Yosef Levi,
and Dr. Veronica Cohen traveled to Beit Sahur to invesigate the incident
three days after it occurred. The report also included a statement by the State
Attorney’s office, tucked away in an appendix, that after its own
investigation at the scene, “it was doubtful that they would be able to
disprove Moshkovich’s claim of self-defense.” Moshkovich had not known of
this statement when he had agreed to the plea bargain.
In late 1994, Jewish “human rights” activists encouraged the family of
the Arab youth to sue for civil damages from Moshkovich in the Israeli courts, in
the hope of setting a precedent for scores of similar cases involving Jewish
civilians and soldiers acting in self-defense. As noted, the family was
represented by Avraham Gal.
In its December 2000 decision, the court upheld the suit, relying on the
testimony of two Arabs who claimed to have witnessed the event in the
moonlight, even though there was no moon on that date. Moshkovich was ordered
to pay NS160,000 to the family plus NS40,000 in court costs. He has had to
borrow money and divert his family’s income to cover legal expenses. Now,
according to Israeli law, he must pay the judgment immediately, prior to a
ruling on his appeal.
The injustice is compounded by the fact that no reciprocal judicial
arrangements exist that enable Jews to collect on debts owed them by Arab
residents of the Palestinian Authority. Despite signed agreements on the
mutual enforcement of legal judgments, claims involving money owed to Jews
are universally ignored by Palestinian officials.
A wave of similar civil suits by Palestinian Arabs against Jews is now
expected. Meanwhile, Moshkovich, who has no Jewish human rights organization
working for his defense, must now raise NS200,000. If you can help, please
contact Boaz Moshkovich directly: Tel. 972-2-9964553; email –
boazm58@yahoo.com
Or send donations to:
In USA:
Central Fund of Israel
c/o Marcus Brothers Textile
980 6th Ave.
NY, NY 10018
Attn: Arthur Marcus
Earmarked for: Tekoa Legal Defense Funds
———————–
In Israel:
Tekoa Legal Defense Funds
(Keren Le-siu’a Mishpati)
Branch 105, Account 675946
Bank Poalei Agudat Israel
It is possible to deposit checks through branches of
Bank Ha-Bein Leumi Ha-Rishon
Or send check to Mazkirut Tekoa
Lefkudat “Tekoa-Keren Le-siu’a Mishpati”
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Jerusalem, March 26, 2001
React to the Murder of Baby Shalhevet
As a first reaction to the murder of Shalhevet Pass, a 10-month old
beautiful baby, who was murdered by an Arab sniper from the PA
controlled Abu Snenah hill – Women in Green call upon all to
bombard Ariel Sharon’s office with phones and faxes demanding he
should allow the IDF to retake the hills surrounding Hebron.
We are shocked to see that until now, the army has not received
permission from the political echelon to react differently than during
the Oslo years under Ehud Barak; i.e. the army shoots one or two
shells at EMPTY Arab homes….for show.
How much more Jewish blood has to be shed, for this government
to start reacting?
For more info: read the attached release we got from Hevron and
then call and fax Sharon’s office:
phone: 02-670-5511
fax: 02-677-3687 or 02-566-4838.
It has been our experience that when the office gets too many
faxes they turn off one fax and use another. So try both phone
numbers.
You can also phone and give your message verbally or ask them for
another fax number.
Nadia Matar
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News from Hebron
The Hebron Press Office
March 26, 2001
Terrorist gunfire kills one and injures one in Hebron
At about 5:00 this afternoon an Arab sniper shot and killed a 10 month old
baby girl, Shalhevet Techiya Pass, and wounded her father, Yitzhak Pass,
with two bullets in the legs. They were shot at the entrance to the Avraham
Avinu neighborhood. The baby was in the mother’s arms at the time of the
shooting and was hit in the head. Emergency medical teams arrived
immediately. The father was treated and evacuated to hospital. The doctors
were not able to save the baby.
A Hebron spokesman issued the following statement:
For seven months the Hebron community has been shot at from Abu Sneneh and
Harat a’Shech hills surrounding Hebron. Before the hills were transferred
to Arafat, 4 years ago, we warned that the hills would be a source of Arab
gunfire, directed at the community. We were laughed at. Following the
beginning of the war, seven months ago, we again warned that if the hills
were not recaptured by the Israeli army, blood would be spilled. Several
times, Arab snipers have barely missed hitting soldiers and civilians in
the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. This afternoon the sniper hit two people –
a 10 month old baby in her mother’s arms, and her father. If Ariel Sharon
does not fulfill his promise to provide security for Hebron’s residents –
if he does not give orders to the army to retake the hills, Hebron’s
community will have no choice but to take appropriate action. Ariel Sharon
promised security. Since he was elected, two innocent people have been
killed. If Sharon does not react to today’s shooting, why was he elected?
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Jerusalem, March 27, 2001
Collective Punishment,
A Vital Tool to Curb Arab Violence
In keeping with the on going tradition of the 1929 Arab massacre of Jews,
the Hebron Arabs once again have demonstrated their inability to live at
peace with the small Jewish community in Hebron. This time, their violence
took the life of a 10-month-old infant girl, Shalhevet Pass, and seriously
wounded her father, Yitzchak. Shalhevet was shot in the head and killed,
and Yitzchak shot in his thigh, from nearby hilltops presently occupied by
Arabs which continuously threaten the Jewish community, exposing its
members to mortal danger.
The firing into the Jewish community in Hebron was not the act of a single
perpetrator. Nor does the blame for such shooting lie with the Palestinian
Authority alone. Prime Minister Sharon has rightfully pointed out that the
Palestinian Authority was very much involved. However, the blame for these
murderous acts lies with the entire Arab community of Hebron. They deserve
to be punished collectively for these inhuman acts. Inaction and
indifference of the Hebron Arabs are responsible. Such acts of terror and
violence continue against the Jews only because the Arab Community itself
does not take appropriate preventative action. It is ironical, that Arabs
in Hebron, the ancient capital of King David and the Jewish People, and
where their Matriarchs and Patriarchs are buried, will not permit Jews to
live there.
Defense Minister Ben Eliezer has been “taken in” by the Palestinian
Authority’s guile. The Arab Community tolerates the most beastial conduct
on the part of several of its Arab members. At the same time, Arabs are
skillful in knowing how to invoke world sympathy to their Cause.
Particularly the Palestinian Authority has great expertise in pulling the
proper strings that will bring “liberals” and the “left” to their defense.
“Collective Punishment” is a no-no among liberals and the left. Defense
Minister Ben Eliezer apparently has fallen into a trap. He feels obligated
to make it known to “liberals,” “the left” and the Press over and over
again that he will only punish Arabs who are responsible for acts of
violence and terror. He stresses that he will not collectively punish the
Arab Community in affect saying they are not responsible for such terror.
The fact is however, that Arab violence and terror continues because it is
supported by a majority of the Arabs. Polls have shown repeatedly that a
sizeable majority of the Arab Community approves of such violence against
the Jews. Only when the whole Arab Community is punished collectively for
the crimes committed against Jews, will they be impelled to act to act to
curb such violence and terror.
There is an old saying: “All’s fair in love and war.” It is not only the
Palestinian Authority but it is the whole Arab Community which is at war
with us. Any tool is vital which makes the Arab Community realize its
responsibility to subdue and eradicate violence and terrorism from their
midst. In this context, collective punishment is such a tool and is a valid
and important means to once and for all help end the violence against Jews
here in Israel.
Ruth & Nadia Matar
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Jerusalem, March 30, 2001
Shalhevet to be buried on Sunday
News from Hebron
The Hebron Press Office
March 30, 2001
———————————————
OUR FATHER, OUR KING, AVENGE BEFORE US THE VENGEANCE OF THE BLOOD OF YOUR
FALLEN SERVANTS
The funeral of the pure and innocent child
Shalhevet Techiya Pass H”YD
who was murdered on Kiddush HaShem in Hebron
by an Arab terrorist
will take place on Sunday, 8 Nisan (April 1)
at the ancient Jewish cemetery in Hebron
Bullet-proof buses will leave Binyanei HaUma in Jerusalem at 10:00
The funeral procession will leave Ma’arat HaMachpela at 11:00
Full security provided by the Israeli security forces
The Jewish Community of Hebron The Pass and Zarbiv families
====================================================
A Hebron spokesman issued the following statement:
In answer to those who ask, why conduct the funeral now, before the
Shalhevet (Abu Sneneh) hills have been recaptured,
1. The purpose of the delay was to pressure the Israeli government into
retaking the hills. Unfortunately, this has yet to be implemented. A week
has passed and the point has been made, throughout the world. We will not
allow the Israeli government to sit idly by while Arabs spill Jewish blood
It is now time to bring little Shalhevet to her final resting place.
2. With the approaching Passover holiday, the family should be allowed to
fulfill the seven-day period of mourning.
2. Remembering Shalhevet
Residents of Hebron and Kiryat Arba are honoring Shalhevet’s memory in a
number of ways. Many people are wearing a picture of Shalhevet around their
neck. The picture of Shalhevet (which means flame) can be downloaded at:
http://www.hebron.org.il/shalhevetpix.exe
Join us in memorializing Shalhevet Pass
—————————————
Women In Green urges all those who can, to attend the funeral.
Shabbat Shalom,
Ruth and Nadia