Israel Police announced Wednesday afternoon that the remains found in the sea on Tuesday off the coast of Hadera belonged to Barak Tzach, z’l, who was killed by sharks on Monday.
Tzach, z’l, a resident of Petach Tikva, is survived by his wife and four children. His wife, Sarit, announced his death in a Facebook post, in which she also addressed the rumors surrounding the deadly incident. “With deep sorrow and pain that has no words, we announce the death of my husband and our father, Barak Tzach,” she wrote.
“I want to put an end to the rumors that are spreading about the circumstances of his death and tell the truth. On the day of his death, Barak arrived at the beach after a day’s work, as he often did. He entered the sea equipped with a snorkel, mask, fins, and a GoPro camera – without anything else, and certainly not with fish or bait, contrary to the rumors that have spread. Barak went into the water to dive and photograph sharks, not to feed or play with them.”
“In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the event, I was told that he swam near the sharks and later moved a little further towards a more open area. He photographed the sharks from a distance but did not touch or feed them. When they started getting too close to him, he used the GoPro camera stick to gently push them away. The fisherman called him to return to shore, and Barak began to swim slowly towards him – and then he was attacked. The family asks to refrain from spreading false or unfounded information, and to respect the memory of a beloved person who loved the sea and nature.”
Tzach served in the reserves in Battalion 8207 in the Northern Nachal Brigade (228). His army friends released a statement following his death: “The 8207 family announces with great sadness the untimely death of Barak Tzach following the shark attack earlier this week off the coast of Hadera. Barak served in the battalion since 1999, was a dear man, beloved, and we will miss him very much. The battalion is here for his family and will continue to accompany them all the way. Details about the funeral will be announced later.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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According to Rabbi Avigdor Miller Ztl any Jew who was in the Israeli arli army has a share in the world to come. Of course there are different levels of shares in oilem Habah each according to where they come from and the efforts they put into Torah and mitzvohs. I once told this Gerrer Chosid who in his youth joined the Israeli army. When he d what Rabbi Miller said he lit up with great joy. And even years later he met me and excitedly told me how he is full of joy since hearing those words.