How does a family simcha continue when an unfathomable tragedy occurs? For the Paley family – the answer is – with incredible gevurah.

Mrs. Prager is the sister of Reb Avraham Noach Paley, who was severely injured in the attack. He is sedated and ventilated and is unaware of the terrible tragedy that struck his own family – the loss of his two young sons, h’yd. The Pragers made a wedding last week and the Paleys were about to travel to Bnei Brak for Shabbos Sheva Brachos when the terror attack occurred.

According to a B’Chadrei Charedim report, the Pragers considered canceling the simcha or holding it in a reduced format, but changed their minds after consulting with the revered grandfather of the family, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Paley, who instructed them to hold the simcha exactly as planned.

One of the family members described the Shabbos they experienced at a hall in Bnei Brak to B’Chadrei. “Until Shekiah, we said Tehillim for the wounded with tears streaming down our faces. Afterward, Kabbalas Shabbos and the seudos were held with dancing and total simcha.”

The grandfather HaRav Paley, one of the Roshei Yeshivos of Beis Shmaya, spoke after davening, saying: “Shabbos HaMalkah is now spreading her wings over us and we need to rise above ourselves and be mekadeish b’kedushas haShabbos. I request that you don’t speak about the tragedy that befell us and also those who say drashos shouldn’t mention the topic at all.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)