While the Shomron community of Itamar is full to capacity, having accepted 20 families since the massacre of the Fogel family HY”D in 2011, the family’s home remains vacant as no one wished to move in.
According to Yediot Achronot correspondent Akiva Novak, after 9 Av the Fogel home will be occupied by a family living on the community today, a family with six children that is seeking more living space.
In his report Novak quotes the father of the family saying “we are not afraid but to the contrary. We are happy to express our emunah by this act and to prove to our enemies that we remain strong and will be victorious”.
“It is understandable why no one wished to move in as community children are still suffering nightmares at night. The Shabo family HY”D also suffered an attack and it took seven years until a family moved in so in this case it is relatively quick”.
The 2002 attack:
On June 20, 2002, shortly after 21:00, a terrorist infiltrated into the yishuv shooting in all directions before bursting into the Shabo home. The terrorist first shot the mother, Rachel in her back. Then he shot Avishai, 5, Tzvika, 13, and Neria, 16, as well as a neighbor, Yosef Twito who came to their aid. Thirteen-year-old Avia told the doctor who treated her in the hospital that she had heard her mother shout out in pain and then all was quiet.
Boaz Shabo, the father, a printer by profession, was not at home. The older children – Yariv and Atara – were also out, visiting friends.
Rachel grew up in Karnei Shomron and met Boaz, from Moshav Beit Meir near Jerusalem, 20 years ago. The Shabos were among the founders of Itamar 18 years ago and always welcomed newcomers, inviting them to their home for Shabbos. Rachel worked as a secretary in nearby Yitzhar until a year ago. Her friends described her as an energetic and affable person.
Only a month earlier, Neria had escaped terrorist shots in his bedroom at the yeshiva high school on Itamar, when three of his friends were killed. His pillow had been hit by bullets. Neria’s friends said he had been a genius. Tzvika’s friends described him as a righteous young man.
Rachel Shabo was buried in Itamar alongside her three sons. She is survived by her husband Boaz, and four of their children – Yariv (17), Atara (15), Avia (13) and Asael (8).
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
May HaSh-m strengthen these modern day hero chalutzim of Eretz Yisrael. Ken Yirbu!
its not just of eretz yisroel its of kidush hashem and kiyum hatorah bipoel mamosh
The way you presented the recap of the Shabos’ story was confusing. It was copied and pasted unchanged from a contemporaneous article. You should have updated so it was clear when events took place — e.g., Rachel wasn’t a secretary until a year ago, as she has been dead HY”D for ten years. It should say until a year before her murder. The surviving children’s ages should be updated. This was just very sloppy.