"I Wanted to Create a Different Picture"; Hanan Rubin Explains the Call for Orthodox to Attend the Funeral of a Christian Officer
Hanan Rubin calls on the Orthodox community to pay final respects at the funeral of the Arab-Christian officer who defended Bnei Brak residents with his life. "I received thousands of emotional responses, proving how much we know to show gratitude," he says.
In the circle: Hanan Rubin / Officer Amir Khouri (Photo: Courtesy of the family)Hundreds from the religious and Orthodox community are expected to arrive today (Thursday) for the funeral of Officer Amir Khouri - the officer slain in the horrific attack in Bnei Brak, after charging at the terrorist and being shot dead. Khouri was an Arab-Christian, yet hundreds from the Orthodox sector have announced their intention to join the funeral procession held in Nof HaGalil.
The person responsible for this interesting initiative is Hanan Rubin, a social-political activist, who posted a message that gained tremendous traction, urging the religious and Orthodox sector to pay final respects to the officer who prevented a much larger attack with his own body, undoubtedly saving lives in Bnei Brak.
In a conversation with 'Hidabroot', Rubin notes that the idea came to him after a sleepless night. "I simply couldn’t fall asleep," he explains. "I kept thinking about the recent wave of attacks and the feeling that terror is raising its head, and people start to fear going outside. It reminds me of my days as a youth during the Intifada. I told myself that we have to change this image, we have to create a different picture here.
"When I first saw the name Amir Khouri, it seemed to me like a typical Jewish name. But the moment I realized he was an Arab-Christian who sacrificed his life for Jews in Bnei Brak, I said to myself this is the picture we need to see - all of us as the people of Israel, the Arab world, and the world at large.
"In the image I see in my mind’s eye, there are thousands of religious and Orthodox Jews participating in the funeral of an Arab-Christian. I am sure a spectacle like this will clearly reflect the cooperation between us, and that we know to recognize and appreciate each other".
According to Rubin, since he first raised the idea, he has received thousands of messages and calls on the subject. "People reached out to me and said they want to participate and sign up for the transportation we're organizing for the funeral. Some have also offered to donate money to fund the transportation. At this point, it is still unclear how many buses will go, but it's certain there will be two focal points - in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, from where the buses will depart. Additionally, many individuals have told us they will come on their own. The people of Israel are expected to come in droves".
Do you personally plan to attend the funeral?
"Of course, I will come. I want to see this special picture with my own eyes".
Can I ask where the courage to make such a call comes from? After all, you do not belong to the Orthodox community
"I am part of the national-religious community, but I have been connected with the Orthodox community for many years. I know it and its capacities well, and I also know where the heart of many from the Orthodox community lies. In implementing the idea, I also reached out to my friends from the Orthodox sector who enthusiastically joined to help".
Some might argue this is reminiscent of the Orthodox from Har Nof who came to the funeral of officer Zidan Saif, killed in the synagogue attack in the neighborhood...
"That's very true, it was indeed on my mind when I thought of this initiative. I also know there is still a connection today between the officer’s family and the community in Har Nof. I hope and aspire for the same in this case, and hopefully, we won't have to reach such scenarios, and there will finally be peace and quiet".
