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March 07, 2008
Gathered to Heaven
A Rav comforts his students at Yeshiva Mercaz Harav after Thurday's terrorist attack
(Menahen Kahana / AFP/Getty Images)
An Ethiopian Jew mourns during the funeral of yeshiva
student Trunoch Maharata, 26, in the city of Ashdod, Israel Friday,
March 7, 2008. Maharata was one of eight students
slaughtered Thursday night in a terrorist attack on
Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Family members of Jewish yeshiva student Trunoch Maharata,
26, surround his body at the funeral in Ashdod, Israel Friday,
March 7, 2008. Maharata was one of eight students slaughtered
Thursday night by an Arab terrorist.
(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Jewish Ethiopian clerics attend the funeral of yeshiva student
Trunoch Maharata, 26, in Ashdod. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Jews mourn during the funeral
of Avraham David Moses, 16,
in the Jewish town of Efrat March 7, 2008.
Avraham David Moses,
a student at Meraz Harav, was murdered
by an Arab terrorist.
(Reuters/Gil Cohen Magen)
Jewish mourners carry the body of yeshiva student
Segev Paniel Avihail, 15, during his funeral at Mount Olives cemetery
overlooking Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, March 7, 2008.
(AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
Jewish mourners carry the body of yeshiva student Segev Paniel Avihail, 15, during his funeral at Mount of Olives cemetery. (Sebastian Scheiner / Associated Press)
A poster listing the names of the eight
Mercaz HaRav yeshiva students murdered by
an Arab terrorist. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Jewish mourners gather around the bodies
of the eight yeshiva students, murdered in a terrorist
attack, during their funeral at Mercaz Harav Yeshiva
in Jerusalem, Friday, March 7, 2008.
(AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Bullet-riddled glass door from Yeshiva Mercaz HaRav.
(Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)
Mourners attending the funeral of the eight Jewish students.
(AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Who Will Comfort My People
(AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Mourners attending the funeral of the eight
Mercaz Harav Yeshiva Students.
(AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Thousands gather for the funeral of the eight righteous yeshiva
students butchered by an Arab terrorist. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
“Before Him the grave is naked, the consuming depths have no cover.”
Job: 26—6 (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Rabbi Yerachmiel Weiss, head of the Merkaz high school, spoke next, in a voice breaking with emotion and tears: "G-d is just, and His ways are just. We have questions; but the questions are so difficult, so difficult. How is it possible to eulogize one Torah scholar on Rosh Chodesh Adar? But two? and three, and four, and five? Your ways are so hidden, Master of the Universe! In Adar, we increase joy. Look how much joy You gathered to Heaven! They were in the midst of studying Torah, such joy, such purity. We have been left with such a hole. I just want to tell You, Master of the Universe, what great people You took: Yehonadav — he gave [nadav, in Hebrew] so much; what purity and simplicity. You took Yochai from us — he lives [chai] in G-d, what Torah study he did; even while they were setting up for the Purim party, he came to learn Torah. You took Segev Pniel of the Avichayil family — what a family, and what valour [chayil] in Torah! You took Yehonatan [meaning "G-d gave"] — what prayer, what Torah, what beauty. You took our dear Avraham David. Just two days ago I had a long talk with him in his room — what knowledge he had, what integrity, what music he gave us with his Torah reading. And the youngest, Neriah — the candle of G-d, his light will be missing from us..."
To read the complete story, please click here.
Baruch Dyan Ha-Emet
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at March 7, 2008 09:23 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
The Seraphim proclaim "Kedushah" in the celestial court, now I demand that they intone the "Kaddish" for the murdered innocents.
Posted by: Karen Avrech at March 7, 2008 02:47 PM
The photos just tear at my heart. I look at the pictures of these innocent ones and see my own son. May G-d comfort the families of these lost, precious, boys.
Posted by: Dr.Carol at March 7, 2008 06:01 PM
I'm tired of being angry yet I sit and wait for an answer to this crime...how long do we wait? This was not just a crime against Israel but a crime against us all.
Posted by: thud at March 8, 2008 06:54 AM
to mr avrech and the many commenters who are expressing their grief from their homes in chutz laaretz - i want you to know that it is a real comfort to us here in israel to know that you are feeling this along with us. that a brother and sister thousands of miles away is a brother and sister just the same. that this is a battle shared by the whole family of jews and all moral men, no matter where you live.
thank you.
Posted by: josh gberg at March 8, 2008 02:02 PM
The tears and the heartache of the families of these brave Yeshiva boys, who have been taken far too young in their lives, are felt by klal Yisrael.
Our sadness remains and our hearts go out to the families and friends of these innocent victims of evil and terror.
Baruch Dayan Emet...we shall always remember this day of sadness and grief. We shall always strive to continue life on the path of the righteous who were taken.
May their memory be for a blessing. Amen.
Posted by: Leyman family at March 8, 2008 06:10 PM
B"H Here's a link to Batya's report/photos of Yonatan Yitzhaq Eldar's HY"D funeral.
I was there today. I saw his brothers. After Minha, I made my way to the brother I knew. I couldn't get to the other family. It was packed.
Yonatan learned by me for a trimester years ago. I was in a car with him only 2 wks. ago.
The rav and next door neighbor leading the mishnah study also lost a son, in the attack I survived. That whole street was hit hard: Kessler, Yerushalmi, Apter...HY"D.
Posted by: Ben-Yehudah at March 9, 2008 05:08 PM
It's rough here. I don't like the feeling that helping in a shiva house is routine. "I have my way of doing it."
Siton is down the street from Kessler, Yerushalmi and Eldar. Shoham a couple of blocks away.
Apter, Ben-Nun and Druck, in the middle neighborhood, Keinan, too.
Yes, too many, many too many, when one is more than anyone should know.
Posted by: Batya at March 10, 2008 11:36 AM
Karen and I thank all our commenters for their words of nechama which reach out to klal Yisroel.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 10, 2008 08:47 PM