The synagogue in the original town in the Gaza Strip was inaugurated on Israel's 57th Independence Day, only three months before the disengagement. "The synagogue in Kfar Darom served as much more than a house of prayer," says the invitation, "It was the beating heart of the community. It was the center of life, and the residents got culture, social life, and inner strength from it. It is no surprise that the synagogue in Kfar Darom became a symbol in the eyes of the whole of society. There we fought, out of great love for Israel, out of pure faith in the ruler of the world, and out of endless dedication to the land of Isreal."