We mourn the tragic loss of life at Mount Meron

We express our profound sorrow at the terrible loss of life on Mount Meron during the annual Lag Ba'omer Hillolah. A day of celebration and joy ended in unspeakable tragedy.

Along with our entire community, we mourn with the people of Israel and Jews worldwide those who tragically lost their lives. We also share the pain of our Montreal families who lost relatives in this terrible disaster. Our hearts and prayers are with them at this time.

הַמָּקוֹם יְנַחֵם אֶתְכֶם בְּתוֹךְ שְׁאָר אֲבֵלֵי צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלָיִם

In the aftermath of such an unthinkable tragedy, hundreds of Jews in Israel, united in grief and prayer, have lined up to donate blood while praying for the well-being of the wounded. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, whose passing is commemorated on Lag B'Omer, has said that when one Jew is hurt, all Jews feel their pain—Am echad b'lev echad. While nothing diminishes the horrific events that occurred yesterday, it is a small ray of light that the Jewish people have come together in the way they always have—by taking care of one another.

Our hearts go out to the people of Israel as we wish the many injured and all those still fighting for their lives a refuah shlemah—a speedy and full recovery—and offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Shabbat Shalom

Yair Szlak, LL.B
Chief Executive Officer,
Federation CJA