Palestinians Donate Thousands To Build Synagogue in Honor of Terror Victim

TEL AVIV – A Palestinian from Gaza donated several thousand shekels for the construction of a synagogue in memory of terror victim Reuven Schmerling, who was stabbed to death by two Palestinians last October, prompting more donations from Palestinians. 

Yousef Kamil and Mohammed Abu al-Rub carried out a premeditated attack on Schmerling using a butcher’s knife and pickaxe while he was at his coal warehouse in the Arab-Israeli town of Kafr Qassem. The two worked at Schmerlin’s coal storage facility.

The murder was carried out on Schmerling’s 70th birthday.

His family recently launched a fundraising campaign to establish a synagogue in his memory in his hometown of Elkana.

The campaign received an unusual donation this week. A Gazan businessman, who had met Reuven, donated several thousand shekels, Ynet news reported.

The Palestinian donated anonymously due to concerns for his life. But the news site said he left a message describing the victim as a noble, good man.

“Reuven had a pure heart. He loved everyone, I met him in the 1990s, when I used to import goods from China. He was a good man. What they did to him is horrific. If more people were like Reuven, peace would have been achieved a long ago,” said the businessman.

The unlikely donation prompted several others to step forward and contact the family with their own contributions. Some came from the Gaza Strip and others came from Kafr Qassem.

Reuven’s son Shai Schmerling said the donations did not surprise the family.

“My father always had Arab friends, they loved and respected him. It wasn’t surprising to us. Even during the shiva, Palestinians from Gaza and Arabs from Kafr Qassem came over to express their condolences,” he added.

The two terrorists, who were convicted as part of a plea bargain and confessed to the murder, will be sentenced on Thursday by the Lod District Court.

The family is still raising funds for the synagogue through the jgive website.