Many thousands of people took part in Rabbi Yitzchak Arama's funeral in Herzliya on Friday, despite the late hour and heavy rains. Some 30 of his friends and neighbors had no choice but to remain in Herzliya for the Sabbath. He was murdered by Palestinian terrorists on Friday morning as he drove with his family and two other cars out of Gush Katif.
The driver of a car traveling together with the Arama family on Friday, Benny Yefet, who went back to see why the Arama family was delayed, said that bullets continued to whistle overhead even as he began to rescue the mortally wounded rabbi and his family. Yefet said that the army did not respond to the gunfire.
Moshav Netzer Hazani spokespersons issued the following announcement regarding their beloved late rabbi:
"Our crown has fallen.
"What shall we recount first? His sterling character? Or possibly the tremendous love of Torah he had? His traits of truth, integrity, amazing preciseness?
"Every word he uttered was carefully measured. Every minute was utilized to learn Torah and to teach it to others, to bring "shlom bayit" (family harmony), to issue Jewish legal rulings in every area. There was no one in Gush Katif who would not turn to him with questions in every aspect of life.
"He entered the orchard [of Kabbalah] and came out whole, with such humility, with love of all G-d's creatures young and old. He comforted orphans, widows, and whoever was in need. It was enough just to see him, and that would already accomplish 50% of the job of comforting.
"Whoever knew him - loved him, and loved G-d via him. His view of life was encompassing, and he would always say that one should look at the past, and thus view the present and the future, and in this way understand the entire picture - not to "get stuck" and judge according to the momentary present.
"He often said that man's task in this world is that of "borair" - separating the unwanted, the negative, from that which is important and worthy.
"He dwelled on the concept of the troubles of the "pangs of Messiah," as well as the joy of Redemption, and he knew that the test of our generation is the test of faith. He therefore tried to give us various tools with which we could successfully meet these challenges and tests.
"There is no doubt that the vocation of "judging Israel favorably" that he taught us at such length will occupy him at the high levels that he has now reached above, and from there he will vouch for the Nation of Israel and will pray that G-d will finally say 'enough' to our tribulations and will hasten the pulses of Redemption."
See also news article #8 below.
The driver of a car traveling together with the Arama family on Friday, Benny Yefet, who went back to see why the Arama family was delayed, said that bullets continued to whistle overhead even as he began to rescue the mortally wounded rabbi and his family. Yefet said that the army did not respond to the gunfire.
Moshav Netzer Hazani spokespersons issued the following announcement regarding their beloved late rabbi:
"Our crown has fallen.
"What shall we recount first? His sterling character? Or possibly the tremendous love of Torah he had? His traits of truth, integrity, amazing preciseness?
"Every word he uttered was carefully measured. Every minute was utilized to learn Torah and to teach it to others, to bring "shlom bayit" (family harmony), to issue Jewish legal rulings in every area. There was no one in Gush Katif who would not turn to him with questions in every aspect of life.
"He entered the orchard [of Kabbalah] and came out whole, with such humility, with love of all G-d's creatures young and old. He comforted orphans, widows, and whoever was in need. It was enough just to see him, and that would already accomplish 50% of the job of comforting.
"Whoever knew him - loved him, and loved G-d via him. His view of life was encompassing, and he would always say that one should look at the past, and thus view the present and the future, and in this way understand the entire picture - not to "get stuck" and judge according to the momentary present.
"He often said that man's task in this world is that of "borair" - separating the unwanted, the negative, from that which is important and worthy.
"He dwelled on the concept of the troubles of the "pangs of Messiah," as well as the joy of Redemption, and he knew that the test of our generation is the test of faith. He therefore tried to give us various tools with which we could successfully meet these challenges and tests.
"There is no doubt that the vocation of "judging Israel favorably" that he taught us at such length will occupy him at the high levels that he has now reached above, and from there he will vouch for the Nation of Israel and will pray that G-d will finally say 'enough' to our tribulations and will hasten the pulses of Redemption."
See also news article #8 below.