With God’s help Tuesday, 18th of Cheshvan 5775, 11/11/2014
Our dear son, what a perfect deposit we received. It is known that the heavenly court does not judge a person until the age of 20. And you, a treasure beyond price, completed 20 years of life this month. We were privileged to see you grow gloriously. In such perfection, with such success. Committed to your mission and achieving everything you set before yourself as a goal. Shy with good eyes whose gaze penetrates deep, deep inside. Humble like Hillel, with a smile that conquers every heart and ready to stand firmly beside the weak and the needy. A wise and intelligent scholar with wonderful qualities. Before the army, you assisted elderly childless people and breathed life into them. You knew exactly where to touch.
At home, a faithful son and devoted brother to Sahar your twin brother, to Lidor your older sister, to Uriel who looked at your every movement with thirst, and to Tehila, your little sister whom you loved so much.
In the army, a brave and dedicated fighter, a commander with an infinite heart. “Mom, Dad, I have a lone soldier, can I bring him for Shabbat?” With such delicacy of soul. “I have some meetings,” he said, “with donors for the unit, I must get upgraded boots, let’s see how much they’ll be willing to donate, we’ve already achieved a club.”
You honored Mom and me with such royal manners, where did you learn all this? You’re just a child after all. Dear Noy who became an inseparable part of the family, you preserved her dignity so much, loved and gave so much. Everything was already planned between you in exemplary order: wedding, studies, living arrangements… It was supposed to succeed.
But in heaven, the Father of Mercy sits on His throne and chooses souls so high that they can stand in prayer before the Dweller of the Heights and shake the Throne of Glory. Enough with the blood of Your servant that is spilled, the altar is saturated with the blood of the holy ones, the Land of Israel is pure, its ritual baths are pure.
In our Torah portion, Isaac asked his father Abraham: And where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Father in heaven, I knew all along that Almog Asael is not an ordinary child, here is the lamb for the burnt offering, so innocent without any blemish.
There are three partners in a person: The Holy One Blessed be He, his father and his mother. When the time came for the soul to separate from the body, the parents were told: here is yours lying before you, and the pure soul returns to its source.
May it be His will that he stands in prayer for all his family, for this holy congregation, and for all the people of Israel. I am sure that the place to which he arrived, together with all those killed for the sanctification of God’s name, is better for him, and there is no doubt that he would have insisted and recovered.
And may he insist that the verse be fulfilled in us: “O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs; O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud.”
Heartfelt thanks to all the people of Israel who joined together in friendship for massive prayers for the healing of Almog, may God avenge his blood.
And may we be comforted in Jerusalem.
