Mourning for Meron

Yesterday afternoon I took a minute and watched the livestream of the dancing in Meron, Israel and the tremendous celebrations of Lag Baomer. My heart was filled with joy as once again we could see the beautiful sight of tens of thousands of people dancing with joy and celebrating this beautiful day.

Each year as we celebrate Lag Baomer in Sudbury or wherever we are, we take a few minutes and watch the joyous dancing of hundreds of thousands of our brethren in Israel and feel connected with our people and traditions of thousands of years. A couple of years ago, Shayna managed to go to Meron for the night of Lag Baomer and see first hand what this is like.

At close to 6:30pm I saw the first news flashes of what had happened and we all went into shock. We knew plenty people who were there, had relatives who had family members there, and the shock waves of this terrible incident send the chills through us, as we prayed for those who were wounded and those who were still unaccounted for.

The terrible toll of young and old, of children, young siblings, and many young fathers is staggering and today Israel and the Jewish people grieving this devastating and terrible loss.

Sunday has been declared a day of National Mourning in Israel.

We have decided in consultation with others that we will go ahead with our Lag Baomer program later today, as community and togetherness is what we need right now.

One of the many victims was Shragee Gestetner of Montreal a young father and a talented singer, who went to Israel for Lag Baomer to be at this powerful celebration.

Below is a beautiful video of him singing with the great composer Yossi Green, a song and prayer about G-d's mercy on his people, like a father to children, which we say on the High Holidays and other times, and beseeching G-d for that mercy.

I have also included a video that was taken shortly before the tragedy of the crowd singing a song known as Ani Maamin, which tells of the belief, hope and prayers of our people for thousands of years, for the coming of Messiah and a better world.

Today it has been suggested that people light the Shabbat Candles around the world to honor the victims of this terrible tragedy. Candle lighting in Sudbury is at 7:27pm or beforehand.

May G-d grant healing and strength to the many hundreds of families who are mourning their loved ones today.