Our minds are tossed and our hearts are torn with thoughts of Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali. Tossed from seeking rescue for those held captive to seeking comfort from the Eternal who wipes tears from our faces.
Concerning them until today we worried about and we prayed for the protection of their bodies and souls -- echoing the traditional language from the morning liturgy:
אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַנְּתוּנִים בְּצָרָה
Acheinu kol beit yisrael, han'nutunim b'tzara
"As for our siblings from the whole house of Israel who are in distress or captivity, whether on sea or land, may the All-Present have compassion on them and lead them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, and from oppression to freedom -- now, swiftly and soon."
Then with the tragic news today of their murder, we worry and we pray for their souls and our's and for the body of our people -- echoing the prophet:
וּמָחָה אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים
U'macha Hashem dima me'al kol panim
May the Eternal wipe away tears from off our faces (Isaiah 25:8) - May there be an end to death brought for carrying the name "Jew," an end to sadness and pain.
My mind is tossing . . .
