In an emotional ceremony marking a full circle, the Tiferet Yisrael synagogue was rededicated yesterday (Thursday) after being completely destroyed in the Iranian missile strike that killed nine residents of the city. Just 48 hours before Rosh Hashanah, and after an accelerated effort in recent weeks, the synagogue’s reconstruction was completed.
During the ceremony, a mezuzah was affixed at the synagogue entrance and mincha prayers were held. The mezuzah was placed by Tzion Revach, the synagogue’s gabbai and father of Gabriel Revach, who was killed in the disaster along with Mayor Shmuel Greenberg.
Revach was personally involved in the synagogue’s restoration process and worked together with the municipality to complete the construction, bring in equipment and furnishings, and install the ark, with the goal of returning the synagogue to operation as quickly as possible.
The synagogue’s reconstruction was done in cooperation with the bereaved families, the synagogue’s gabbai, the Beit Shemesh municipality, and professional municipal officials, who worked together to complete the work before Rosh Hashanah and allow worshippers to begin the new year in the place where they prayed before.
The ceremony took on special meaning in light of the terrible disaster: the synagogue that was completely destroyed in the missile strike now stands again and once more serves as a home for neighborhood residents.
Tzion Revach, father of Gabriel Revach: “This is a day of celebration. We’ve returned the synagogue to its glory, the synagogue that stood here for 70 years. The mayor mobilized for this project and did it at record speed. This moves me deeply, and this is our recovery from the terrible disaster that took the life of my son Gabriel.”
Mayor Shmuel Greenberg: “Several weeks ago we promised the synagogue would be ready for Rosh Hashanah, and today—48 hours before the holiday—we’ve completed the mission. Building the synagogue is proof that no one will break us. No one will break the Jewish people.”