Meron victims: Kotel Rabbi mourns the loss of his nephew

Rabinowitz was despaired to discover that his nephew Rabbi Menachem Asher Zeckbach, a 24-year-old yeshiva student living in Modi'in Illit, was one of the victims in the tragedy. Zeckbach is survived by his pregnant wife. 

Rabinowitz has come under some criticism due to his role as Rabbi of the Holy Sites in Israel, which reportedly includes overall responsibility and management of the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the 2nd century sage buried on Mount Meron, where last weeks Lag Ba'omer tragedy occurred. Reports over the weekend claimed that there were increasing calls for Rabinowitz to be questioned by police over the developments that led to the deadly stampede.

Rabinowitz shared in the grief and mourning of the nation and those who lost loved ones. 

"Together with all of Israel, in the country and in the Diaspora, we are hurting and mourning for the souls of this horrible tragedy... Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones," Rabinowitz announced.

 

He added that prayers were being said for the "recovery and healing of all the wounded and for the strengthening of the medical and rescue teams."

Rabinowitz went on to express the heartrending cry of the victims:

"At this difficult time in which the victims are buried, we unite in heart and soul with the hurting and grieving families. It is not yet time to shout their... cry. A cry that was not heard as they begged for their lives. A cry that shocks the entire Jewish world, a cry that no one could hear, but we all can 'see the voices.'"

The mourning and pain will require some soul-searching, the rabbi added, but kindness and unity will help "heal the fractures and draw the necessary conclusions."