The head of the Elkana local council, Asaf Mintzer, reacted on Wednesday to the murder of 70-year-old Reuven Shmerling, a resident of the town, in Kafr Qasim.
"We are in shock and sorrow together with the Shmerling family over the terrible murder of Reuven, who was supposed to celebrate his 70th birthday today. The entire family is here, the children and the grandchildren, they are all in shock," Mintzer said outside the family's home.
"It is impossible to understand a situation in which a 70-year-old Jew goes to Kafr Qasim and is found slaughtered. We do not know anything other than the fact that his son found him in such a terrible situation,” he continued.
"Reuven and his family arrived in Elkana 31 years ago, a rooted family, he served as a cantor on Yom Kippur. We all share in the sorrow of the family," Mintzer added.
Shmerling was found stabbed to death in the Arab town of Kafr Qasim, in central Israel.
Police are investigating the murder, and suspect he hired Arab workers from the area, and the workers beat him to death during an argument.
(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Sukkot in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)