Nof Ayalon-Sha’alvim–“I found out Naftali was missing on Friday morning. Friends asked me to make contact with him… Later, when we found out that the last signal from his phone came from the Hebron area, it became all too obvious what had happened.”

As the six-month anniversary of the violent murder of Naftali Frankel, Gilad Sha’er and Eyal Yifrach (z’l), approached, Matanya Weiss, 18, a longtime friend of Naftali Frankel (z’l), recounted how he felt when he heard the tragic news. “In the first few hours, I simply couldn’t believe it. Someone that I know, abducted by terrorists. Television crews, coming to [Nof Ayalon]… the story being publicized on the news…. It slowly but surely sank in.”

As the news of Frankel’s abduction spread that Friday afternoon, the people of Nof Ayalon felt alone in their pain, spending the Shabbat in suspense, waiting for any news on their friend and neighbor’s condition. Then a hastily arranged prayer session for the missing boys at the Kotel on Saturday night made it clear Naftali’s community was far from alone.

He remembered, “On Saturday night, when we went to the Kotel, we understood that we were not the only ones carrying the burden, waiting in suspense. There were many people from all over the country crying against the Wall in prayer. When we returned [to the Kotel] on Sunday, tens of thousands of people were there, including Ministers of Knesset, Chief Rabbis–our personal plight had become a national tragedy, with all of us still wondering; ‘How could this happen to someone we know?’”

Seeing the outpouring of support for their abducted comrade, Matanya and a few of Naftali’s other friends decided to do something. They set up a temporary tent outside of the Frankel home in Nof Ayalon, a place of learning and prayer for Naftali’s safe return. For three weeks, they arranged a constant cycle of organized learning, speeches and prayers at the Frankels’ home.

And then, came the tragic news on June 30, that the bodies of the three boys had been found. Everything fell apart for the Frankel family and the Nof Ayalon community. A hope that had been sustained for 21 days fell apart, finally gone.

At first, Naftali’s friends were in shock, without any idea of what to do next. But, after remembering how Naftali’s kidnapping affected the people of Israel and the world, and seeing thousands of people crowded into the Modi’in cemetery to pay their final respects, a few youths in Nof Ayalon decided to ensure their friend’s memory and legacy would continue forever. The young men who organized the davening and learning at the Frankel’s house put their planning skills to designing a permanent memorial to their fallen friend. “During the shiva, we decided something special needed to be done to perpetuate Naftali’s memory. After a few meetings, we decided to build a memorial, but a unique one,” said Weiss.

Avishai Aharon, another organizer, explained: “It’ll be a place where people can mourn, where his memory can live on, but also a place full of life. It will contain a small amphitheater for Bnei Akiva events, speeches for youth, and other meetings. In addition, we decided to include a small seating area for picnics, with tables, benches and swings. And also, a monument for Naftali and Gil’ad and Eyal, so that the entire site would be connected to their memory.”

The Frankel family is very thankful for the effort Naftali’s friends have put into continuing his legacy. “Naftali’s friends have been amazing, dedicated and energetic. They’re very enthusiastically working on the construction of this memorial,” said Rachel Frankel, Naftali’s mother. “We are happy that together we can bring something sweet from all that happened, and that Naftali will be remembered in a peaceful, pleasant place, connected to the land.”

Weiss, Aharon, Elchi Yaakov, and Tzur Tirchingut, have been working with the municipal and local councils to find the perfect spot for the project. They recently received approval to build on a piece of land on the edge of their community, overlooking the picturesque Ayalon Valley. With the help of architects, engineers, and contractors who are working pro bono, initial planning and construction have begun. But, the work cannot continue until more funds are raised.

The project is expected to cost upwards of $95,000, though until plans are finalized, no one is sure of exactly how much will be needed. Donations have begun coming in, via private asks and Internet campaigns, but the boys are still far from their goal.

Anyone interested in contributing to the “Building a Memory, Together” project, to fund the construction of a beautiful monument in the memory of a tragic loss, can donate by visiting: https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/building-a-memory-together, or searching their Facebook page (Hebrew): “בונים יחד זכרון.”

Yair Keller contributed to the reporting of this article.

By Tzvi Silver, JLNJ/Israel