Thousands of roshei yeshiva, rabbonim, talmidim of
Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak residents accompanied
the holy Yisrael Meir Yehiye Hy"d, to his final
resting
place on Sunday 26 Adar. The bochur was murdered on
motzei Shabbos parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei in a terrorist
attack in Netanya. A nine-month old baby was fatally wounded
in the same attack.
Yisrael Meir, Hy"d,was twenty-eight years old at the
time of his murder. He was the son of HaRav Shlomo,
zt"l, and Esther, tichye. He was brought up in
a
home of Torah, fear of Heaven and good character traits. His
late father was one of the outstanding avreichim in
the
Kollel Chazon Ish, as well as a ram in Yeshivas
Mesillat Yeshorim.
As a youth, he learned in the Shtilei Zeitim Talmud Torah and
later in Yeshivas Kehillos Yaakov Letze'irim, where he pored
over his studies with remarkable diligence. He later
transferred to the yeshiva in Zichron Yaakov, and then to
the Yeshiva Gedolah in Beit Chilkiya. He was known as one of
the yeshiva's most outstanding students, who toiled in Torah
with exceptional diligence and was also known for his
remarkable character. Two years ago, he began to learn at
Yeshivas Mir, where he continued with his diligent study and
was known for his warm relationships with his fellow students
as well as his love for all Jews.
Yisrael Meir, Hy"d, initiated a daf yomi shiur
for yeshiva students held after the regular study sessions.
The shiur was a great success, with scores of
participating students.
During bein hazmanim he was active in the kiruv
organization, Arachim, arranging seminars for those wishing
to return to Yiddishkeit. His work was both admired
and
appreciated. He was also active as a volunteer in ZAKA.
He had been one of the staff of an Arachim seminar during
Shabbos parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei at a hotel in
Netanya.
At the end of Shabbos, shots were heard outside of the hotel.
As soon as he heard the cries of the wounded, Yisrael Meir
ran to their aid. Somehow he was swept along with the
terrorists as they ran away. Police think that he was taken
as a hostage. He hid with the terrorists behind the hotel. It
was not clear if he was murdered by the terrorists or killed
by mistake along with the terrorists by police fire. The
family refused an autopsy which could have determined what
happened.
The news of his tragic petiroh was a shocking blow to
the heads of Yeshivas Mir and his fellow talmidim who
were so close to him. Thousands participated in the
levaya on the afternoon of 26 Adar. They bitterly
mourned the loss of a young bochur whose life was
snuffed out at the pinnacle of his spiritual growth.
Friends of Yisrael Meir, Hy"d, relate that since the
death of his father zt"l two years ago, Yisrael Meir
became head of the household, acting as a father to his
younger brothers and sister and tending to their spiritual
needs.
At the start of the <>levaya, HaRav Dovid Menachem
Schneider, menahel ruchani of Yeshivas Grodno Yismach
Moshe recited pirkei Tehillim. The crowd of thousands
repeated after him, verse by verse.
Hespedim were delivered by HaRav Shlomo Zalman Ulman,
moro de'asro; HaRav Mordechai Karelitz, mayor of Bnei
Brak; HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi, one of the heads of Yeshivas
Mir in Jerusalem and HaRav Yehudah Jospe of Arachim.
The niftar's brother, Sar Shalom, was the last of the
maspidim. In a tear-filled voice, he said, "Two years
ago, we witnessed Hashem's judgment at the time of the death
of our father zt"l, and now we see that, `Your
judgments are a mighty abyss.' My brother Yisrael sacrificed
all of his physical and spiritual strengths for the benefit
of others. And everything he did was done unpretentiously.
During bein hazmanim, he used to leave the house for a
couple of hours during the afternoon. When I asked him where
he was going, he would say, `I'm going to see a friend.' I
found out later that he had been sitting and learning with
his chavrusa. `My beloved has gone to the scented
flower beds to gather roses.' He had planned to spend Shabbos
elsewhere, but HaKodosh Boruch Hu sent him to Netanya.
Here the `rose was gathered.' Although he was busy at the
Arachim seminar, he heard screaming, and wanted to do
anything he could to help the wounded. There he was
murdered."
Sar Shalom continued amidst the heart-rending cries:
"Before the petiroh of our father zt"l two
years
ago, he told us, `I am leaving behind a houseful of children,
but you have nothing to worry about: you have Yisrael Meir.'
This father has also left us. We are remember how he took
care of his younger brothers. . . with such dedication he
served as our second father. What will happen to mother now?
How will she be able to bear it? Instead of leading him to
his chuppah, we are accompanying him to his eternal
rest. May Hashem help us that `death will be eternally
blotted out and Hashem will wipe the tears off every
face.'"
Following the hespedim, the thirteen middos
were
fervently recited, along with the piyut Ezkeroh E'
Ve'ehemoyoh and the prayer Acheinu kol beis
Yisroel.
The levaya moved slowly through the streets of Bnei
Brak, passing the Shtilei Zeitim Talmud Torah to the Yarkon
Cemetery where Yisrael Meir Hy"d was buried alongside
his father zt"l. Hespeidim were recited at
graveside by HaRav Yisroel Yacobson, former friend and
chavrusa of the father, and his friend, the
avreich Rav Refoel Manat.
He is survived by his mother, tichye, brothers and
sister, and hundreds of friends and acquaintances who
bitterly mourn his passing.
