"Hakodosh Boruch Hu took them but what about us?" Hagaon R' S. Kook weeps

A few hours passed since the harsh tragedy which occurred last night (Monday) on Najara st. in Rehovot – and the kehilla in Rehovot, just as in Israel as a whole, finds it hard to digest. The terrible tragedy, which seems to have been taken out of the bloody pages of history, did not leave a dry eye.

Among the hundreds of mourners who surrounded the home of the Shaer family, we also found the Rav of the city – Hagaon R' Simcha Kook. He had heard of the tragedy during a Chassuna of a Chosson who was orphaned of both parents. At the moment he received the news, he left everything and quickly went back to his city, in order to be next to the shocked members of family, those who were left behind.

In a special talk with the Behadrey Hareidim reporter, at a late night hour, which was held at the Rav's home in Rehovot, he tells of the family's image, and the insights each one of us should learn from the harsh tragedy.

"What we saw is a terrible Ayin Hora"

"Last Shabbos, we read in the Parsha of the founding of the Mishkan, and within the great simcha, the joy of Klal Yisroel, in which Hakadosh Boruch Hu attoned for the sin of the calf, the two sons of Aharon Hakohen – Nadav and Avihu, died, and the Torah says "And Aharon kept silent". Why? Because he had nothing to say, a person cannot talk at such a hard time. Here too, what we saw is a terrible Ayin Hora, Tinokos shel Beis Raban, who were wanted by Heaven," says Hagaon R' S. Kook in great pain.

Harav Kook told that during the last months the family decided to leave their apartment on Najara st. and stay somewhere else. "The father wasn't willing, he said that it's a good place. And in fact, this is the truth, this neighborhood is one of the best we have in t he city, the Talmidim are careful to come to shull every Shabbos and say Tehillim together. The behavior of the boys is one of Torah and of the girls in Tznius is worthy of praise. But in heaven, they decided to take him and his children…"

The Rav added: "It says in the Gemora that Hakodosh Boruch Hu has a daily routine. One of the hours is dedicated to learn with the Tinokos shel Beis Rabban, who have not tasted the taste of Torah. Just like our case, this is the only chizuk from which we can draw strength, these are Tinokos that Hashem has take to the next world, a world of reality, in order to educate them in a good way.

"Each one has to come out of here and take the matter of Bein Adam Lechaveiro and Bein Adam Lamakom, and strengthen them. To fix times for learning Torah, to learn more, to try more and more to awaken in the ways of Hashem. Otherwise, where will we land?"

The social workers will arrive at the Talmud Torah

During the interview, the Rav mentions the horrible attack which happened last week in Toulouse, in which four Jews were killed. "Just a week ago was the terrible and nasty murder," says the Rav. "But these are Dinnim from Heaven, this has to shake us more and more. Why did it come? "We should search our ways…"

About family Shaer, says Harav Kook: "this is a very well known family in Rehovot, in its good deeds and in every matter. The mother teaches in the Tzvia school, the students love her and she loves them in return. It's such a pity that everything was severed in one moment."

• What do we have to say to the family in such a harsh time?

"I've talked with them about this comforting point that Hashem teaches Tinokos shel Beis Rabban. They have, the family, a great Emunah. If they ask me today, what do the babies who were killed say to their grandfather? "Zeide, stop crying… Nothing bad should happen to you. Recover, you must recover…" Harav Kook ends his words.

The educational team with the help of the social workers from the municipality, gathered this morning (Tues.) to consult how it will be possible to bring the harsh news to the Talmidim of the Talmud Torah Hare'em of the Chinuch Atzmai, in which the little children, who will no longer arrive in class, learned.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!