A Time to Weep

King Solomon’s Wisdom:

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

A time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot….
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

The time will come for us to think about how to properly and strategically respond with strength, wisdom, and resolve.

But that time is not now.

Now is the time to weep. Now is the time to mourn.

Below is a translation of “Kel Malei Rachamim” – the prayer for the souls of the departed.

While I have never done this before, tonight when I heard the devastating news I recited this prayer and was moved to tears.  I have included the Hebrew and the English translation below with the names of the boys included.

Many people spend their lives trying to bring unity, brotherhood, and inspiration to the world. In their brief lives, these boys have brought a nation together in prayer and hope in a way rarely seen in our world today. May their memories continue to bring light to the world.

אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים שׁוֹכֵן בַּמְּרוֹמִים,
הַמְצֵא מְנוּחָה נְכוֹנָה עַל כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה,
בְּמַעֲלוֹת קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים
כְּזוֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ מַזְהִירִים,
אֶת נִשְׁמַת

יעקב נפתלי בן רחל דבורה

גלעד מיכאל בן בת גלים

אייל בן איריס תשורה

שֶׁהָלַךְ לְעוֹלָמם, בְּגַן עֵדֶן תְּהֵא מְנוּחָתםֹ. אָנָא בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים יַסְתִּירֵהוּ
בְּסֵתֶר כְּנָפָיו לְעוֹלָמִים,
וְיִצְרֹר בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים
אֶת נִשְׁמָתם, יְיָ הוּא נַחֲלָתםֹ,
וְיָנוּחַ בְּשָׁלוֹם עַל מִשְׁכָּבםֹ, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן׃

Compassionate source of all that is,
who is present in the heavens,
take our loved ones:

Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah

Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim

Eyal ben Iris Tesura

under your holy, pure and glorious wings
that shine like the sky,
as we provide charity
in the name of the soul of our loved ones.Please Compassionate one,
provide rest for the souls of our loved ones in Ga’an Eden
and never withdraw your protective wings and bind these souls into the bond of life. Hashem is this soul’s
everlasting inheritance and peaceful resting place,
and let us say: Amen.