This is a tragic story of a young chosson in Eretz Yisrael who was diagnosed with a dreaded illness during sheva brachos.

R’ Refael Avraham Yosef Hadad z”l was niftar during the evening hours of Sunday, 5 Teves 5774 at the age of 22. He and his wife, Tal Ohr were residents of Betar Illit. He was not feeling well during sheva brachos and he began undergoing diagnostic tests to determine the cause, only to learn two weeks later that he has a terrible illness R”L that affected his liver.

The young man grew up in Ofakim. He lost his father at a young age as a result of a vehicular accident. He was viewed by his rabbonim as an outstanding talmid who showed great promise. He was a talmid muvhak of Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Ephraim Cohen and he was totally immersed in his limudim.

The levaya was held later in the night beginning in Ofakim and kvura was in Netivot. יהי זכרו ברוך.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)