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More than 1 million people in Israel and around the world took part in Unity Day events, marking one year since the kidnap and murder of three Israeli teenagers.

Events took place June 3 in Jewish communities in 24 countries and hundreds of schools, community centers and public venues. Events included text-based study, social justice initiatives and community art projects.

Poster pleading for the teens’ return later became a memorial photo montage.

The commemoration on the day after the yahrzeit, or date of death on the Hebrew calendar, of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach was created by their parents under the auspices of the Memorial Foundation for the Three Boys, in conjunction with Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and the Gesher organization.

“The kidnappings of our boys marks one of the more difficult moments in Israel’s modern history. But the reality is that out of this bitter tragedy came a spirit of unprecedented unity among the Jewish people,” the parents said in a joint statement. “Our commitment is to ensure that this sense of unity remains alive. This was the mission of Unity Day and we are so moved and encouraged by the global response.”

A conference of Israeli and diaspora thought leaders was held in Jerusalem on June 3 to discuss issues that emerged from events of the summer of 2014. The first Jerusalem Unity Prize in memory of the teens was awarded in a private ceremony at the president’s residence in Jerusalem by President Reuven Rivlin.

The winners were the Chabad house of Bangkok, in the Israel-diaspora category; Nifgashim BeShvil Yisrael, an annual hike on the Israel Trail, in the social initiative category; and retired Brig.-Gen. Ram Shmueli, founder of Meetchabrim, a network of hundreds of social and educational organizations, and singer-composer Rabbi David Menachem, in the individual category.

The teens were abducted from a West Bank bus stop on June 12, 2014, and following a massive 18-day search their bodies were discovered in a shallow grave near Hebron. They were killed shortly after being abducted. — jta