Amir Benayun sings to Tamar Fogel

Amir Benayun is an Israeli singer who in recent years has drawn closer to traditional observance and religious practice. Benayun has a new song called Hitna'ari which he wrote for Tamar Fogel, the 12-year old girl who found five members of her family murdered by terrorists. The words are based on the eulogy of her mother Ruth Fogel's brother. The words of the chorus are taken from the prayer L'Cha Dodi, traditionally recited on Friday night, and from a line from Yechezkel 16:6:

When I passed over you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you: In your blood, you shall live; I said to you: In your blood, you shall live!

The version below features the Itamar children's choir and has English subtitles:

Leads on the Itamar murder

Israel National News reports that the IDF and Shin Bet are close to a breakthrough in the investigation of the terror attack on Itamar:

According to a report on Channel 2 News on Monday, security forces believe that the murderers indeed came from the nearby Arab village of Awarta. The report said that during the past week, fingerprints and DNA samples were collected from the village’s residents, including women.

Tamar Fogel asks Livni to take action on behalf of Pollard

The amazing middot (character) of 12-year-old Tamar Fogel, the orphan whose parents, brother and sister were murdered by Palestinians last Friday night, are coming to light. Last week, she said she would be strong and overcome, and be the mother of her brothers. 

In the video above, Tamar Fogel speaks in her first interview, hardly mentioning herself and her own pain, but speaking with all of her heart about the importance of unity between all parts of the Jewish people, settling the entirety of the land of Israel, and justice for Jonathan Pollard.

The Jerusalem Post reports on Tamar's special plea for Pollard:

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni made a pledge to 12-year-old orphan Tamar Fogel on Wednesday to work to bring about the release of Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard.

Pollard's wife Esther visited the shiva house earlier and presented teddy bears from her husband to Tamar and her two surviving siblings. Tamar showed the bear to Livni and asked her to take action on behalf of Pollard, who has served more than 25 years of a life sentence.

Livni responded that she has worked to bring about Pollard's release and would continue to do so. She commended Tamar for her selflessness.

"Despite all your pain, you are thinking about the pain of others,” Livni told Tamar. “This is heartbreaking and amazing.”

Amazing indeed. May Hashem comfort and protect this extraordinary young woman and may her emunah and middot be an example for all of am yisrael.

See here for a commentary on the contemporary manifestation of Amalek-Haman.