Israel
YAMAS fighters celebrate a dignified beit knesset
JERUSALEM – Before they leave on their nightly anti-terrorist raids, members of the Israeli Border Police (Mishmar HaGvul) elite counter-terrorist unit, YAMAS, like to offer a little prayer. They go to the base synagogue for a few minutes of quiet meditation and prayer, and hours later repeat this ritual to give a prayer of thanks for their safe return.
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Earlier this month the International Young Israel Movement – Israel Region (IYIM), with the support of the Leo V Berger Fund, celebrated with YAMAS the inauguration of a permanent, dignified structure for their synagogue (beit knesset).
IYIM was approached by Rav Boaz Giladi, of the Mishmar HaGvul Rabbinate, to facilitate the building of a new beit knesset for the YAMAS fighters.
“About a year ago I had the privilege to work with IYIM to bring a Sefer Torah to a fighting unit of the Border Police that protects the borders of northern Jerusalem and its inhabitants. The donation of the beit knesset was a natural progression in our relationship.”
The base, in an undisclosed location in central Israel, is a home-away-from-home for the YAMAS members who perform daily raids and life-saving missions for Israel and her citizens. They operate in plain clothes, staying out of the spotlight in deep undercover to help root out terrorism.
“A beit knesset is an essential part of our army and police force, providing spiritual strength and a place to pray. It is our honour to be able to provide YAMAS with this beit knesset and it is our hope that it will be used by the fighters of this unit for years to come,” said Fund President Harvey Schwartz.
IYIM Executive Director Daniel Meyer, called the YAMAS fighters “the bravest and some of the most unsung heroes of Israel”.