JERUSALEM—A week of violence and terrorist attacks continued on Friday in Israel as a woman attempted to stab an Israeli soldier at the Afula central bus station on Friday afternoon—the third terrorist stabbing incident in less than four hours.
The woman was seen pulling out a knife and approaching a soldier waiting at the bus platform. After bystanders called out, two border-police officers opened fire at the terrorist, shooting towards her lower body. She was arrested and treated at a local hospital for moderate wounds.
Meanwhile, three Gazan Arabs were killed and 16 injured in a clash with the Israel Defense Forces as hundreds of rioters approached the fence that separates Israel from Gaza. Earlier in the day, Hamas leaders had urged increased attacks against Jews.
In response to the ongoing violence around the country, the Chabad-Lubavitch Youth Organization in Israel launched an emergency campaign across the country on Erev Shabbat (Friday), sending thousands of volunteers into the streets to urge men and boys over the age of 13 to put on tefillin.
They will do so, say officials of the group, known as Tzeirei Chabad, in light of instructions given by the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—who had issued a similar call during other dangerous times in Israel. Before the outbreak of the June 1967 war, for example, the Rebbe prompted an active campaign for Jewish males over the age of 13 to perform the mitzvah of tefillin.
Wrapping tefillin is part of the Rebbe’s 10 mitzvah campaigns introduced between the years of 1967 and 1976. Called mivtzoim (“campaigns”) in Hebrew, these 10 mitzvahs formed the platform upon which the Rebbe’s far-reaching program to revitalize Jewish life and observance throughout the world was built.
The laying of tefillin instills fear in the enemy, explained the Rebbe, quoting: “Then all the peoples of the earth will see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they will fear you.” (Deuteronomy 28:10)
Today’s campaign encourages Jews to “call your friends right now, and take a pair of tefillin with you and head out.”
There were also calls by rabbinic leaders around the country for increases in Torah study, prayer and other mitzvahs, in addition to donning tefillin.
More Attacks in Kiryat Arba and Jerusalem
In Kiryat Arba, a 47-year-old police officer was stabbed during a security check at the back entrance to the community, a day after a 31-year-old Israeli sustained serious stab wounds in an attack in the same location. Paramedics from Magen David Adom—Israel’s emergency medical service—evacuated the lightly wounded officer to the Sha’arei Tzedek Medical Center.
A 16-year-old was also slightly injured on Friday afternoon in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem. “The young boy did not recall being stabbed by his assailant,” said an MDA responder who arrived at the scene. “He said he was attacked with punches by his assailant, who fled shortly thereafter.”
Rescue forces found the boy was wounded very lightly, with a minor stabbing wound to his upper body.
Terrorist violence over the course of the week has left four Israeli Jews dead—Rabbi Eitam and Na’ama Henkin, who were shot and killed while driving with their children in Samaria; and Aharon Benet and Rabbi Nehemia Levi, who were stabbed in Jerusalem—and others recovering from knife wounds.
Psalms and Other Assistance for the Wounded
The Chabad Terror Victims Project (ctvp.org), Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and volunteers are continuing their work of encouraging and assisting the wounded in the recent attacks in Israel. They are lifting their morale and trying to cheer them up with gifts and encouragement, in addition to providing emergency financial aid for those who need it.
The public is asked to continue their prayers for the wounded.
Their names are:
Odel bat Miryam
Natan ben Odel
Moshe ben Orli
Meir Yitzchak ben Sarah Imeinu
Aharon Moshe Chaim ben Chaya Chana
Dvir ben Shoshana
Avraham ben Rut
Ron Shai bat Sigalit
Sahar bat Shoshana
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