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Arutz Sheva News Service http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com Friday, Oct. 20, 2000 / Tishrei 21, 5761 ------------------------------------------------ RABBI HERLING BURIED Thousands of people accompanied the funeral of Rabbi Binyamin Herling in Kedumim today. Even before the identity of the victim of yesterday's battle was known, rumors were making their speedy way around Yesha towns that the victim was a "well-known tzaddik [righteous man]." Kedumim resident Rafaela Segal said last night that Rabbi Herling was known as a kind and modest Torah scholar of the first order, who lived with his wife in the same small structure that his family was assigned when he and the original settlers first moved in 23 years ago. He traveled to his various classes by hitchhiking, and would study Torah with whoever was the driver on the way. A lover of the Land of Israel, he worked the land on Fridays when he did not teach. 
A shaken Kedumim Rabbi Daniel Shilo told Ma'ariv, "He was one of the model personalities that developed here in Yesha, in Bnei Akiva, and in our yeshivot. A real Torah scholar and a spreader of Torah. He was a paratrooper in the army, one in whom no fault was found, "not in the eyes of G-d and not in the eyes of man.'" Karnei Shomron Council head Yehuda Lieberman said, "He was unbelievably modest. He tried always to make peace between people. He spoke quietly and pleasantly, was loved by everyone, and was never involved in controversy."  Yehoshua Herling, one of eight children of Rabbi Herling, called today on Yesha residents not to carry out personal acts of vengeance for his father's death, nor even to do so verbally. Rabbi Eliezer Waldman said at the funeral, "This terrible murder must send shock waves to the government, the nation, and throughout the land!" Rabbi Chaim Druckman accused the government of blindness as to what is happening in the country: "Master of the World, what else has to happen for us to open our eyes to the truth of this 'process!' And there are still 'understandings'! We can't believe even one word Arafat says!" Rabbi Daniel Shilo said, "I do expect vengeance - but not of the private kind. I expect the country and its government to take proper vengeance on what happened yesterday." 
SUMMARY OF THE BATTLE Ze'ev Chernin, one of the hikers on yesterday's tragic hike, recounted the events for Arutz-7: "We left Kedumim on an organized, army-approved trip, to the site of Joshua Bin-Nun's altar when he entered the Land of Israel, and a look-out point for Joseph's Tomb. Four soldiers in jeeps accompanied us - over 30 people, including women and children. At one point, we were on a mountain side, about 300 meters from the outer houses of the Arab camp Askar, and some of us wanted to see another site. About nine of us, including myself, chose not to go; one soldier remained with us, while the other three went with the others. Right then, the Arabs began firing at us. We took cover, even though it was very hard to hide, because the mountainside was very open and uncovered. At one point, I was forced to fire back. The Arabs were firing massively at us, while we had to be very careful with shooting since we didn't have much ammunition. Despite this, one Arab was killed.. Even heavier firing was directed at the other group. Our people also shot back, but they most certainly did not start the firing, as the Arabs claim!... At one point, IDF helicopters arrived, and circled overhead. At first they did not fire, which was a great disappointment to us. Later, they did shoot, but then they were shot at, and they left. All this time we were there on the mountainside under heavy fire. Only after four hours did I see an army reinforcement coming on the top of the mountain. The soldiers started shooting very heavily, but they were still unable to come get us. Later, after dark, they came to us and the rescue started..."
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