Aaron Sofer

In elul 1963/5723, a tragedy occurred when three choshuve bochrim from a yeshiva in Yerushalayim were killed along with their driver when the truck carrying them slipped off the road, rolling down the side of a mountain. One of the bochrim, Mordechai Falk, came to a friend Zev in a dream.

” ‘I have two questions for you. First, how did you come to enter Gan Eden without first undergoing judgement in the heavenly court? And second, why did you and the others have to experience such a strange and difficult death at such a young age?’

Mordechai answered,’A year ago on Rosh Hashana of 5723(1963), a very harsh and bitter decree was issued on the entire Jewish yishuv in Eretz Yisrael. A terrible tragedy was to befall the community, because of their sins. But Hashem in His Mercy had pity on His nation, and instead chose a public sacrifice to atone for the masses – four pure souls, including three yeshiva studens from the holy city of Jerusalem.’

‘We, the four who died, were sacrificed on behalf of you all…those who were seriously hurt in the accident also recieved their injuries according to a precise accounting. Every scrape…was taken into acount. For each there was a specific reason. All was calculated by Heaven in accordance with his judgement’

‘Now you understand why we didn’t undergo judgement. A Korban Olah rises directly to Gan Eden and does not have to stand in judgement before the heavenly court’ ”

(Tales for the Soul 4by Yair Weinstock)

I think with whats going on nowadays in Eretz Yisrael, one can only imagine how terrible and out of control the situation could have gotten r”l. Who knows if I myself, here in America, actually literally owes Aaron Sofer, the Korbon learning Korbonos, for my life?