Following a devastating day marked by three separate fatal tragedies, ZAKA spokesman Moti Bukchin issued an emotional appeal to the public—especially yeshiva bochurim enjoying bein hazemanim—urging greater caution and personal responsibility to prevent further loss of life.
Speaking on Kol Chai Radio’s main evening news program, Bukchin described the heartbreaking scenes ZAKA volunteers were confronting across the country as they responded to multiple fatal incidents simultaneously.
“ZAKA responds to every death, and unfortunately this has been a very, very difficult day,” Bukchin said. “Our volunteers are still handling the tragic incident at Keshet Cave, a ZAKA ambulance is currently transporting the boy who drowned in the Jordan River back toward Modiin Illit, and at the same time there has been a fatal traffic accident near Yerushalayim in which two people were killed. We invest tremendous effort in public awareness. I personally speak at campuses and to yeshiva bochurim about the dangers of bein hazemanim, but sadly, every year these heartbreaking incidents continue to occur.”
Rather than assigning blame, Bukchin stressed the importance of taking personal responsibility and making safety the highest priority before heading out on any trip.
“I’m not looking to blame anyone, but every one of us has to take responsibility,” he said. “If we’re yeshiva bochurim going on a hike, think about your parents. Be prepared, don’t try to take shortcuts, and make sure you have a plan for getting home safely. If we’re parents, we need to learn the route beforehand and make sure it’s appropriate for everyone. Don’t try to outsmart the situation or be an iber chacham in the field.”
Bukchin also spoke at length about the dangers posed by swimming pools and beaches, emphasizing that many tragedies are entirely preventable.
“Never leave children alone for even a single moment at a backyard pool—not even for a second to grab something,” he warned. “People continue entering unguarded beaches and swimming at night, and it ends in disaster. Our community understands the importance of ‘Venishmartem me’od lenafshoseichem,’ and it’s painful to see that principle ignored. Think about parents whose child comes home in a ZAKA body bag. Just imagining that is heartbreaking. Be extra careful—it’s important to leave safely, but even more important to return home safely.”
“Our community understands the importance of V’ Nishmartem Meod.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t or no one would go to an unsupervised beach or on a boat without a life jacket.
And our leaders would speak about this just as they speak about tznius, even beyond the actual Halacha.
I think it’s about time that “bein hazmanim” should be abolished.
There’s too many ‘osanot’ to justify it.
The Torah cannot be learnt less and be forgotten for 3 weeks.
For young men to leave the 4 walls of the beis hamedrash for what? For putting themselves into sakana, where’s the seichal in doing that, where is the “airing out” in that?
Torah is מציל ומגן, what better way is there to save ourselves and the Jews than that?