"God picks the most beautiful flowers for his garden"

Normally before I blog I plan in my mind what I'm going to write, gather a few sources (if appropriate), and then put fingers to keyboard, however sitting here listening to the funerals on the radio from last night's horrific event, I feel that I have to express my thoughts as they come, without planing the post in advance (so sorry in advance if this post seems disjointed.

First of all, we should remember each of these precious angels that were called back to the Heavenly Yeshiva before their time in this world was finished:

Yohai Lifshitz, 18, of Jerusalem

Yehonatan Yitzhak Alder, 16, of Shilo

Yehonadav Haim Hirshfeld, 19, of Kochav Hashahar

Neria Cohen, 15, of Jerusalem

Roy Rot, 18, of Elkana

Segev Peniel Avihail, 15, of Neveh Daniel

Avraham David Mozes, 16, of Efrat

Doron Mahareta, 26, of Ashdod

Notice the ages of these young Kedoshim who were studying in the High-School program at Merkaz HaRav, not at the Higher Yeshiva.
Notice that they came from all over our beautiful country, leaving families in mourning in every corner of this Land.

These young men were all connected to the Heart of the Torah World, and lived a life immersed in Torah.

YNet had the following quote from David Moriah, the step-father of 16 year old Avraham Mozes הי"ד

"Every Thursday I would go to the yeshiva to study with him. This week I wasn’t able to make it. I also teach a class at the Horev yeshiva, and I sent him a test message telling him that we would complete the Torah studies on Saturday, because he was supposed to come home.

"He is a righteous, outstanding person," said David Moriah. "He always made sure to be 100 percent, both with God and with friends and people. He had amazing internal integrity. He was like an angel."

Well it seems like Avraham will miss his regular learning session with his father in Shabbat. Maybe instead he'll be able to learn with his other father and namesake, Avraham Avinu.


A few thoughts about Merkaz HaRav. The selection of the target of this attack clearly wasn't random, rather the perpetrators were clearly attacking the cornerstone of the most Patriotic component of the Zionist enterprise.

For anyone not familiar with the institution, Merkaz HaRav was founded by HaRav Kook זצ"ל and was the first Yeshiva affiliated with the Religious-Zionist movement. The thousands of other Religious-Zionist institutions, the Hesder Yeshivat, The Bnei Akiva Yeshivot and Ulpanot, the Pre-Army mechina Programs, the Garinim Toranim, Kollelim all over the world, Bnei Akiva, Ezra, Oz, and many many other organizations are all outgrowths from this root so firmly planted by HaRav Kook.

The only time in my life that I made a Bracha "Dayan HaMet" with Shame Malchut upon hearing upon the death of someone was Succot this year when the news came that Rav Shapira, Rosh Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav, had been called back to the World of Truth. I made the Bracha not because I was ever Zoche to hear shiur from Rav Shapira, but all of the Israeli Rabbonim who I am close to are either graduates of Merkaz HaRav, or studies in schools that were founded by graduates of Merkaz HaRav.
(Disclaimer - making a Bracha was a gut reaction, I am not sure whether M'ikar HaDin it was appropriate, you should consult your own halachic Authority in a similar situation)

May The Holy One soon fulfill the words of Megillat Ester:

כַּיָּמִים, אֲשֶׁר-נָחוּ בָהֶם הַיְּהוּדִים מֵאֹיְבֵיהֶם, וְהַחֹדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר נֶהְפַּךְ לָהֶם מִיָּגוֹן לְשִׂמְחָה, וּמֵאֵבֶל לְיוֹם טוֹב; לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹתָם, יְמֵי מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה, וּמִשְׁלֹחַ מָנוֹת אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ, וּמַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיֹנִים
(אסתר ט' כ"ב

the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
(Ester 9:22)