"The children are asking: with whom will we play?". The day after

"A terrible tragedy happened last night" – this is how the teachers at the Talmud Torah Hare'em in Rehovot opened the morning (Tues.) and immediately went on to say chapters of Tehillim for the Iluy Neshama of the six members of the Shaer family who were killed in the fire.

Three out of the family's five children, entered the gates of this school each morning. This morning, the seats of Amitai, Evyatar and Eliav – stayed empty. The news of the harsh disaster passed from one pupil to the n ext. The atmosphere at the school was unbearable. The pupils found it hard to believe that the lives of six, out of which three were pupils, were taken in one terrible moment.

In grade 1 in which Amitai z"l learned, in grade 2 in which Evyatar z"l learned, and in grade 6 in which Eliav learned – the atmosphere was even more severe.

The school principal, Harav Ephraim Weiss, reproduces in a talk with Behadrey Haredim what had happened since he received the announcement about the fire which broke out on Najara st, through the announcement which was passed on to the pupils of the school, after long thoughts and different consultations, - until the burial of the 6 members of the family.

"At 10:30 pm I received the first news about the fire which broke out in a private home on Najara st.", he tells. "At first, we had no idea who was involved, but I k new that many of the school's pupils live on that street.

"Later on, when the extent of the disaster became apparent, we invested thought and consulted with the chief Rabbi of the city, Hagaon Harav Simcha HaCohen Kook, alongside educational factors and social workers, in a question of how to start the school day".

Each pupil and his story

And indeed, at 7:30 am, all the educational and welfare factors gathered, headed by the city's Rav and school principal.

"The team was instructed to tell the pupils that a big tragedy had transpired at night, and we need many Tefillos to Hakodosh Boruch Hu," tells Weiss. "The pupils davened in their classes and said a few chapters of Tehillim, and only afterwards the mechanchim heard them, each one and his story, each pupil and his harsh feelings".
Harav Weiss relates that most pupils knew already about the harsh tragedy. "One friend tells another. In the classes in which those who were killed learned, the psychological team came in to cope with harder situations.

"Two hours later, the educational team gathered to hear the personal feelings of each of the mechanchim and teachers, who have to stay strong in face of the great pain of the pupils.

"We came to an agreement to meet with educational and welfare factors every few days in the coming period," Harav Weiss tells, "in order to pass this hard period in the easiest way possible for the pupils".

Free service

Outside the optical store "Tov Ayin" in Be'er Yaakov, which was under the ownership of the father, Guy z"l, shocked customers and acquaintances gathered today, read Tehillim, and learned Mishnayos for the Iluy Neshama of the deceased.

"Guy was a wonderful person, in all his free hours at the store he learned Torah," tells one of the customers. "He would always give a very devoted service. He wouldn't take payment from needy customers. He would always tell his customers the truth, he would never cheat a person".

With whom will we play?" Ask the children

Moshe Tam, the board chairman of the Najara neighborhood, where the Shaer family stayed, tells Behadrey Haredim: "The mother was born here in our neighborhood, and her husband Guy lived here over the last 10 years. Its' hard to talk of them in the past, but this is a deep mourning. This was a very modest family, respectable and quiet. Only a week and a half ago they sat Shiva – in the apartment which was totally burned out last night. It's very hard to digest.

"I talked to the grandparents, they are simply not digesting the news. Avivit thinks she's in a dream, she also cannot fathom the idea," says Moshe, who himself finds it hard to believe. "It's hard for the entire neighborhood to receive this bitter news. The children who played with those who were burned ask today, "Who will we go to? With whom will we play?"

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!