Some disasters cannot be described in words. As the prophet said, "All hands will fall limp, and every man's heart will melt (Isaiah 13:7)."
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At the time of writing, the scene was still bleeding. Emergency medical workers continue to fight for lives, as hundreds of worried families around the world seek out information, and synagogues are filled with Jews pouring their hearts out.
Rumors that are beginning to come out are heartbreaking. Tears blur our vision. Pain cruelly takes over.
It is precisely at this time that we must embark on an important task.
While the focus has been on the dead and the wounded, there are far more invisible victims that have yet to receive mention - victims who are now suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. Thousands of young people and adults watched the tragedy unfold. Young boys and girls are encountering difficult images they do not how to digest. This is where the call goes out to all of us: Parents, decision-makers, pay attention to their souls.
Many schools, seminaries, and Haredi yeshivas lack professional staff with knowledge of how to identify and assist victims of the tragedy. The staff at these institutions of education have never been trained to provide help and mental assistance at times like these.
Now is the time for all those in charge to step up. Before investigative committees are launched and the blame game begins, we must join hands to help these young people and adults.
As someone who for years has had the privilege of providing guidance and medical advice, it is important I turn also to those adults who were there at Mount Meron when disaster struck and their relatives: Pay close attention to your state of mind. There is no shame in seeking professional help. Early treatment of your young children and even yourselves can prevent the trauma of this difficult event from deepening further.
Let us not forget about collective trauma.
The images and voices coming from the scene of the tragedy prevent any of us from escaping what transpired there. There is an understanding that we are all one big family that cannot be torn apart by our differences of opinion. Ever since midnight on Lag B'Omer, we have identified a collective trauma. Both young and old witnessed and experienced events the soul cannot fathom.
The timing cannot be ignored. This tragedy has befallen us at the end of a complicated year, at a time when the Israeli public is divided, and we are incapable of coming together with our fellow man. And just like every other event involving too many officials, the temptation is to cast blame and hunt for those at blame. Brothers and Sisters, now is not the time. This tragedy can and should serve as a wake-up call. In one small moment, the imaginary sectoral partitions come tumbling down, the tragic fate uniting us all.
Let us leave the drawing of conclusions to the professionals. Let us reach out to each other in love. Together, we will sound the ancient plea of Israel's Knesset for generations: "Please, O God, heal her now … and eternal gladness will be hers."
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