A Matzav.com Editorial:
The summer bein hazemanim season is still at its height, yet it has already come at a heartbreaking cost. One tragedy after another has shaken the community, both in Eretz Yisroel and in chutz la’aretz, with reports of young people and entire families losing their lives in accidents, drownings, and other devastating incidents.
These painful events should cause every one of us to pause and reflect. Bein hazemanim is meant to be a time of rest, family outings, travel, and renewal. But stepping away from our normal routines also demands an even greater level of caution. Whether driving, swimming, hiking, operating recreational vehicles, or visiting unfamiliar places, every activity requires planning, responsibility, and vigilance.
It takes only a single moment of inattention to create a lifetime of heartbreak.
Parents, bochurim, children, and adults alike should make safety their first priority before heading to the beach, the pool, a hiking trail, or any other destination. Do not enter unsupervised or prohibited waters. Avoid unnecessary risks. Follow all safety regulations while traveling and enjoying the outdoors. Above all, look out for one another.
As countless families spend these weeks together on vacation and enjoying time away from home, our heartfelt hope is that this summer will be remembered for joyful memories, not for tragedy. May everyone who leaves home for an outing return home safely.
Bein hazemanim is a precious opportunity to rest, recharge, and gather strength for the months ahead. Please do not allow a moment of carelessness to turn it into a heartbreaking tragedy. Protect yourselves, protect your children, and protect one another.
Finally, someone discussing these tragedies without the usual speculation on “reasons” and simply calling for more care and caution. You are right on.
Oh. THAT’S the message behind these unspeakable tragedies. Not that this is a loud wakeup call from HKBH to Teshuvah, as it is written in the Rambam (Taanis 1:3).
Do us a favor. Stick to what you do well – reporting depressing news en masse. Leave the messaging in world events to Talmidei Chachamim.
If someone just runs into the street without looking and gets killed?
It’s not a wake up call for teshuva.
It’s a wakeup call for being careful.
Matazav deserves credit not criticism.
There is also an inyan of reflecting on the seriousness of Rosh Hashana/ Yom hadin. All these mesos/deaths were nigzar on last Rosh Hashana. It was meant to happen one way or the other. The Aibishter had rachmanus and gave the individual life until the very end of the year. Rosh Hashana is 5 weeks away. My point is, even if these individuals stayed safely in their homes without going on any vacation, they would of died wherever they were. I don’t think one can blame the deaths on this or that. It was the same thing during Covid. Every yachid has his allotted time on this world. This is the metzios. Yes, we have to be as careful as possible in a normal way. But there is also no reason to panic or live in constant unsubstantiated fear. We have to go about our normal lives using the seichel HKB”H gave us. May HKB”H protect all of us Yidden and we should all live to greet the Moshiach be”h!
The chinuch explains that Hashem created laws of nature. Fire burns. If a person chooses to jump into fire he dies. It does not show that it was decreed on Rosh Hashanh that he die. He killed himself.
The lesson here remains respect those laws of nature and be careful.
both are true be careful and do teshuvah – being careful is part of the teshuvah needed-see or listen to many shiurim from Horav Avigdor Miller Z.T.L who spoke about it many many times
Why don’t you create an online library of the thousands shiurim from Rav Avigdor Miller. Over 90% today have never heard a single shiur of his. As Rav Yisroel Brag Shlita, a grandson and talmid chacham of note, said in a recent interview, Rav Shmuel Miller ZATZAL said specifically not to print any of the recorded shiurim.
Ur right, be more careful. teshuva isnt the main lesson this time. its the importance of limud hatoirah, and not taking safety for granted, safety is a sign of that which hashem wants from us.