The kidnapping of the three yeshiva students naturally results in extensive media coverage, and journalists are on standby at all times to report and update from the field on any developments.
An event of this kind is not easy for anyone. Certainly not for the parents, not for the extended family, not for the citizens who are suffering with them, but also not for the journalists who are required to be in the field with parents who do not know what is happening to their son, whether he is alive, and what he has been going through in recent days. Journalists are human beings, and they too have hearts, and for them too the work involves quite a few difficult emotions, not to mention the physical difficulty of settling down for 5-6 days, on the doorstep of the kidnapped family.
We all saw the generosity of the families in the statements they gave to the media, but also in relation to the journalists, it turns out that the entire community mobilized to help them do their job to the best of their ability.
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And the journalists, for their part, know each other well. Here are some of the comments published by reporters on the ground about the hospitality in the Talmon settlement. And speaking of Talmon, it is impossible not to mention one journalist, a local resident, Emily Amrusi from Israel Hayom, who was on the ground 24 hours a day and helped in any way she could.
They set up shelters, provide lodging and drinks.
Journalist Gilad Morag from YNET was amazed by the hospitality he saw in Talmon - and he writes:
""With all the sadness, madness, helplessness and hope in the story of the three kidnapped boys, I want to tell you and thank the amazing and charming residents of the Talmon community, where Gil-Ad Shaar's family lives. In addition to the assistance they provide entirely voluntarily to the family, they also find time to take care of all the media representatives in the community.
They have been setting up shelters, providing meals, cakes, and drinks to about 20 journalists at any given moment, without our asking, of course, for several days now.
And all without asking for anything in return. Hosting journalists to stay in their homes! There are simply no words. I have never encountered such hospitality. At noon, the community spokesman convened the media representatives and apologized for the fact that "they will only give a hot meal in the evening." There are no words for these people. Just thank you, thank you, and thank you. The beautiful Israeli is here in Talmon.".
Who entertained us with 'Hachmas''
Kobi Nachshoni, YNET's religion correspondent, spoke about the difference in covering the kidnappings from other coverage he has done in his life: "This is the most frustrating task for journalists: chasing good people in their difficult times. Family members and close friends waver between hope and despair, wanting only peace, and then - just then - a battalion of reporters and photographers attack them, fighting among themselves, to the point of blows, over where each microphone will be placed.
From the outside, it looks like a terrible loss of temper, a lack of sensitivity and proportions that scream to the heavens. Go philosophize and explain in moments like these how and why it is important to mediate and bring their story to the world and blah-blah-blah, and that you are nevertheless and overall a human being doing his job, and not a predatory animal.".
But Nachshoni writes that all this, "until we reached Talmon and Nof Ayalon. In recent days, we "spent" time together outside the homes of Gil-Ad and Naftali, and we found an outstretched hand - and what a hand. The welcome and hospitality were patient, warm and restrained - just like the exemplary behavior of the Frankel, Shaar and Ifrach families in recent days. It made all the difference.".
To understand the generosity of the people of Talmon, Nachshoni explains: "For a moment, it seemed like someone forgot that there were also worried parents here to take care of them: neighbors opened their homes to us with a smile, served us hearty meals (and heavy refreshments in between), set up sheds and awnings for us to protect us from the sun, sent their sweet children to hand us out ice cream and entertain us with "hokmas," added more and more electrical outlets for the benefit of technical equipment and charging phones, and believe it or not - they even ensured a regular supply of sunscreen, mosquito spray, and wet wipes.".
Nachshoni concludes: And with all this, I haven't found a single journalist who wants more of this. Everyone just wants to fold up and go. Not because of homesickness - homesickness for the three children.
The Talmon family: Thank you
Zvika Klein, a Jewish correspondent for the Makor Rishon newspaper and on the NRG website, wrote: "After a long day in Talmon, I just have to say that this is a special community, who despite all the pressure and emotions did everything in their power to make the many journalists feel comfortable, showering them with cold water, drinks, popsicles, meals, electrical outlets - and all with a smile and amazing hospitality. You are inspiring.".
Doron Herman, Channel 10's police correspondent, was amazed by the unusual hospitality accompanied by modesty, as he said: "For the fourth day in a row that the residents here in Talmon have been making sure that we don't go hungry. Such modesty, such politeness, such giving, you don't see it every day. May we never meet again under such circumstances. Thank you from all of us, you are admirable.".
Yaki Adamkar, Walla's ultra-Orthodox correspondent, also complimented: "This amazing community with its open hearts gave us everything. As if we were family members themselves, not us, who needed encouragement, support and assistance. With and especially without us asking, they brought us cold watermelon, popsicles, sandwiches, a luxurious catered meal and everything you could think of. No one asked. No one demanded. They gave and gave from the bottom of their hearts. They gave themselves not only to a family dealing with uncertainty but also to us journalists. The Talmon family, thank you.".
And this is what the veteran press photographer, known as "Coco," wrote: "Nothing is obvious when you arrive in a small town at the end of the world, where everyone is preoccupied with the kidnapped villager, and their only concern is that we don't lack anything. Such are the charming residents of Talmon, who don't let us go for a moment and burden us with everything from food and drink to showers and overnight accommodations. In my name and in the name of all the media people who have fallen for you in recent days... thank you..!""
