Ten days after Elyasaf Chayim was killed while crossing a road on the way to the Or Etzion yeshiva where he studied, the yeshiva held a study day in his memory and for "the ascent of his soul" – (illui neshama).
Rabbi Chaim Druckman, Head of Or Etzion Yeshiva, said that "what Elyasaf managed to do in his 22 years, others do not manage to do in 100 years."
Elyasaf was killed on the evening after Rosh HaShana as he crossed a road on the way to the yeshiva, which is located in Mercaz Shapira in central Israel. He completed his term of service in the IDF two months ago and returned to study at the yeshiva. His friends emphasized his love for Torah studies and for the Land of Israel, and his readiness to help others.
Rabbi Druckman explained during the study day that the reason the "Kaddish" prayer (from the root meaning "sacred") is recited after a person has passed away is that every Jew adds to the sanctification of HaShem's Name.
"A person from Israel passes away, a soldier in the legion of the Holy One, Blessed be He – it would seem that this is a lessening of the sanctification of HaShem's Name," he explained. "[But] we come and announce 'yitgadal veyitkadash Shmeh Raba' [May HaShem's Name grow and be sanctified]. Contrary to what you might think, it is specifically after a person from Israel has passed away, that those who are alive in this world should try to sanctify HaShem's Name in this world more."
"The ascent of the soul" is a Jewish concept according to which the relatives of a deceased person carry out good deeds which they hope HaShem will consider as if they were done by the deceased, and therefore judge the deceased more favorably.