Orthodox Union Senior Managing Director Rabbi Steven Weil will be guest speaker at a community-wide gathering in Newton sponsored by synagogues and educational institutions in Boston and its surrounding areas, commemorating the shloshim (first 30 days following burial) of the three Israeli teenagers Eyal Yifrach, Gil-Ad Shaar, and Naftali Frankel. The commemoration will take place on Sunday, August 3 at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth El Atereth Israel, 561 Ward Street in Newton with a ceremony on the siyyum (completion) of the six orders of the Mishnah in memory of the teens, as well as in solidarity and support for Israel and members of the Israel Defense Forces in Operation Protective Edge.
Rabbi Weil will be speaking on “In the Aftermath of the Tragedy.” The event is co-sponsored by Beit Sasson in Newton; Center for Modern Torah Leadership; Congregation Beth El Atereth Israel; Congregation Kadimah Toras Moshe in Brighton; Congregation Shaarei Tefillah in Newton; Maimonides Kehillah in Brookline; The Maimonides School; Ma’ayan; The Adams Street Shul in Newton; the Young Israel of Brookline; and the Orthodox Union.
Rabbi Gershon Segal of Congregation Beth El Atereth Israel declared, “We are looking forward to Rabbi Weil’s words as we commemorate the siyyum in memory of Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali, z”l as part of a community gathering showing solidarity and support for Israel and the IDF and paying tribute to the fallen members of the IDF in Operation Protective Edge. As an outspoken supporter of Israel who recently led an OU mission there, Rabbi Weil’s scholarship and insights will be especially meaningful in light of the current situation of the Jews in Israel and the coming days before Tisha B’Av.”