By Rabbi Yosie Levine, New York
We were all heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of Ezra Schwartz, an 18 year old American yeshiva student who was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist on Thursday. Ezra’s death is a tragedy for our entire community. His family is sitting shivah this week in Sharon, Massachusetts.
When Avraham died, the Torah tells us that Hashem blessed Yitzchak. Our sages take this to mean that He conferred upon Yitzchak the blessing of nichum aveilim. In his darkest hour, Yitzchak was reminded by the presence of the Almighty that he was not alone. In the absence of words, we can – as a community – be present for Ezra’s family at this impossibly difficult time.
We have arranged to join our friends in the KJ/Ramaz community to pay a shivah visit to the family on Tuesday, November 24th. A bus will leave Manhattan on Tuesday morning and will return in the late afternoon. Thanks to the generosity of a sponsor, there will be no charge. We will share all the logistical details just as soon as they are final. If you would like to join us, please email Aaron Strum at [email protected].
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
May the family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Rabbi Yosie Levine
The Jewish Center
New York, NY
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