President Reuven Rivlin on Thursday, 23 Shevat, was menachem aveil the family of terror victim Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal HY”D, who was murdered in a stabbing attack at the entrance to Ariel this  Director-General of the President’s Office Harel Tobi and head of the Shomron Regional Council Yossi Dagan accompanied the president.

The president met with family members, Mrs. Ben-Gal and her three children, hearing their pain as they expressed their love for their late father.

“With the mitzvah of nichum aveilim, we are trying to take a little of the pain that has afflicted you and your family,” said the president to Miriam, the wife of the late Rabbi Ben-Gal. “I came to be with you not only as a mitzva of condolences but also on the personal level of friendship. I have read and learned a great deal about his deeds and his work, and I will also accept the students of this wonderful teacher to sit and talk with them at the President’s Residence about the terrible events. The true virtue of a teacher is that he is a leader who transfers his abilities to his students and I know that I will meet him through them.”

“He was a loving husband, a happy father, and a funny person”, explained Miriam in pain. “He went out early in the morning to Givat Shmuel and returned from work at once to the children and would not take the bag off his back before he hugged and kissed us.”

The President heard from the family the many consolations who come to Har Bracha to comfort and strengthen the family and their hope that the community will be strengthened after the terrible murder. “We have returned to our land, we have clung to our country and will continue to do so,” the president said in response.

Before leaving, the president met with the family of Rabbi Raziel Shevach HY”D,  also arriving to be menachem aveil. He hugged them warmly and consoled them and stated that it is his hope and prayer in the future, they would meet at simchas.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)