Neighbors of the Atias family z”l of Moshav Bar-Yochai told Kol Berama Radio that Rav Rafael and his rebitzen were simply models of tznius and chessed. They explained that the children, even the little ones, were always dressed extremely modestly, even the little ones who would never leave home without socks.

Rav Chaim Ben-Shimon, the gabbai of a shul in the community where the niftar davened spoke of the mesirus nefesh of the niftar, his total dedication to the shul, the community, his neighbors.

Rav Ben-Shimon stated that the loss remains incomprehensible for mispallalim of the beit knesset and neighbors, adding the Atias family was among the veteran families, in the yishuv for two decades, and the niftar was a member of the town council as well.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)